About
Rising in the heart of the vibrant Marina district is a striking new home for San Diego's children. In May of 2008, the Children's Museum/Museo de los Ni?os San Diego will open the Muse, its new state-of-the-art facility. Located at the corner of First and Front Street and Island Avenue, the building occupies the former Museum?s site. Approximately 50,000 square feet, the new Museum spans three-stories?more than doubling previous public space.
The new Museum will include a dramatic three story atrium, a 17-foot concrete entrance bridge, angled ?saw tooth? roof structure, tilt-up concrete panels based on Irving Gill?s concept, and a glass-enclosed elevator shaft that functions as a heating/cooling tower. Six interior and two exterior galleries will provide spaces for hands-on experimentation. Two birthday party rooms, a 250-seat theater and an indoor/outdoor caf? are additional features.
The Museum is adding improved handicapped access, stroller parking, diaper-changing tables and locker storage. Additional space will allow visiting artists to work for extended periods. The Museum will also be available for rent, offering a creative location for special events.
Amenities
Immediately across from the Muse and accessible by a mid-block crossing, is a new one-acre Museum Park that will be part of the city?s Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade. Landscape architect Martin Poirier, of Spurlock-Poirier, designed the Getty Museum?s gardens in Los Angeles.
Specifically designed for children, the triangle-shaped park includes three shade-covered play spaces, for both day and evening activities, featuring ?cast-shadow? poetry by Quincy Troupe. East Coast artist Tom Luckey has designed an interactive cargo net climbing structure. A Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative work by Roberto Salas will be relocated to the park, spelling ?dream? in sign language.
Getting there
The Children?s Museum/Museo de los Ni?os San Diego is CLOSED to the public and scheduled to re-open in Spring of 2008.
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