Snøhetta unveils design for El Paso Children's Museum

By Bizclik Editor
Landmark is El Paso’s first purpose-built children’s museum, a special project of the El Paso Community Foundation, City of El Paso and other stakeh...

Construction has begun on a four-storey, 70,000 square foot Children’s Museum, designed by Norwegian architect Snøhetta in downtown El Paso, western Texas.

Snøhetta and the El Paso Children’s Museum leadership unveiled the final designs of the new light-filled, lofty and playful structure, during a ground-breaking ceremony held at the museum’s location at 201 W. Main in downtown El Paso. 

The architect won the design for the museum after a two-year process, following meetings with the local community, multiple presentations and a public vote.

The building’s geometries immediately set it apart in the city’s skyline, with its rectilinear base wrapped in glass, providing interior views to entice pedestrians to stop inside the public lobby, and is topped by a rippling succession of barrel vaults which rise to a ‘cloud-like’ crown, the architect explains. 

Furthermore, Snøhetta says that the spaces within the museum will act as a learning tool. These include a terraced ‘discovery garden’, a grove of trees, and a ‘cooling mist’ playground.

“The architecture reveals itself as a cloud, floating above the desert connecting all people in this important place, young and old alike,” the architect firm says.

Snøhetta’s design considers how the museum itself can become a learning tool. With spaces and exhibitions that inspire the imagination of both children and adults alike, the museum celebrates the unique culture and geography of El Paso while providing barrier-free access to educational opportunities, it emphasises.

Elaine Molinar, a native El Pasoan and Partner, and Nick Anderson, Director, revealed the design of the museum, while local children also took part in the ground-breaking immediately after the design reveal. El Paso Mayor Dee Margo, the Children’s Museum board Chair Josh Hunt, and El Paso Community Foundation President and CEO Eric Pearson also spoke at the ceremony. 

The unveiling is the latest milestone for El Paso’s first purpose-built children’s museum, a special project of the El Paso Community Foundation, the City of El Paso and other community stakeholders. The museum aims to become a civic classroom and energy point for the region’s families, designed to maximise open-ended and imaginative play and exploration, Snøhetta adds. It has been designed to bring value to all youth in the surrounding region, and to complement the nearby children’s museum in the Mexican city of Juarez.

It is located within the heart of El Paso’s Downtown Arts district, close to the vibrant San Jacinto plaza, and less than one kilometre from El Paso del Norte, a major border-crossing station. To the north, the site is bounded by the Union Pacific Railroad, one of two major transcontinental freight lines in the western United States.

Snøhetta has partnered with local El Paso architects Exigo and is working with Gyroscope who is designing the exhibitions for the museum.

Share

Featured Articles

Cement Industry key Target of $20bn US Decarbonisation Plan

As part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, the US Department of Energy is to invest $20bn on cleaning up US industries, including cement

Skanska Reshapes its Sustainability Team

Sweden-based sustainable construction company Skanska refreshes its sustainability team 'to better serve client and company goals'

Kingspan Group 'Cuts GHG Emissions by 65%'

Insulation specialist Kingspan Group's sustainability reports says 2023 business-wide ‘internal carbon price’ explains cuts in Scopes 1 & 2 emissions

Dubai Extends Metro as Millions Switch to Public Transport

Construction Projects

New construction contracts released for HS2 UK rail project

Construction Projects

How to lead a successful EDI migration process

Construction Projects