National Children’s Museum - Washington, DC

The National Children's Museum - Washington, DC will build a new facility at National Harbor in Prince George's County, Maryland. The museum will be a 150,000 square-foot world class cultural and educational center. A groundbreaking date has not yet been announced and fundraising is ongoing. While the permanent space for the National Children's Museum is in development, a Launch Zone is currently open and serves as a temporary space with interactive exhibits and programs. A 75,000 square foot transitional space, “A Place for Being Me”, is projected to open in the spring of 2013.

National Children's Museum Launch Zone

Open to the public seven days a week, this space uses interactive exhibits and computer kiosks to give children and families the opportunity to experience exhibit components and programs, share their ideas about what should be included in the new Museum, and participate in fun and educational programs. The Launch Zone also hosts ongoing area Museum Without Walls programming, professional development workshops and trainings, and community learning events for parents and caregivers. The Launch Zone is located at 112 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, Maryland, just minutes from Washington DC. See a map and directions to National Harbor.

"A Place for Being Me"

The National Children’s Museum will open “A Place for Being Me”, a transitional space at the intersection of American Way and St. George Blvd., National Harbor, MD in the spring of 2013. Using a combination of indoor and outdoor spaces, the 75,000 square feet of transitional space will offer programs ahead of the museum opening schedule. The indoor space will focus on play, civic engagement, the environment, the arts, health and well being, and global citizenship. A creative outdoor space will provide a wide range of active outdoor play activities supporting the museum’s goals of creating healthy, fit, and informed children. Elements will include a toddler zone; “challenge mountain” adventure; water play zone; fantasy garden; and a variety of other activities where children can explore, create, and discover the wonders of the natural world.

National Children's Museum Building Plans

When completed, the new museum will house exhibits, programs, and resources designed to spark the imagination and celebrate the power of children and their families. Interior exhibits will highlight six core content areas (the environment, health and well-being, play, civic engagement, the arts, and world cultures). The National Children's Museum will be a LEED-certified building, serving as an active teaching tool, highlighting the accomplishments of children; using recycled and sustainable materials; and celebrating the natural environment. The Museum plans to incorporate a number of green features in the new building, including:

• A Wind Turbine: The building's wind turbine, a symbol of NCM's commitment to sustainable and renewable energy, will be a source of power.
  
  
• A Sun Reflector: A series of reflective panels on the roof of the arrival space will reflect sunlight, minimize artificial lighting, and reduce energy loads during the day.
  
  
• A Living Wall: The Museum's south facing façade features a cable and tray system to support a framework for a living, green wall. The Living Wall will shade the building from the bright, hot southern sun, helping to cool the building and reduce energy demands.
  
  
• A Green Roof: A green roof system will provide for sedums and small scale planting, absorb rainwater (reducing storm run off), improve thermal insulation, and reduce the "heat island" effect.
  
  
• Recycled Materials: The new Museum will use recycled structural steel and some recycled brick from demolished buildings

Website: www.ncm.museum