Miami, FL

Arquitectonica’s 2001 project for the Miami Children’s Museum used the theme of earth, wind, water and fire to express the volumes and colors utilized in the final design. When joined, the parts provide a space where children can actively respond to and be engaged with their environment.

Expanding on that concept, the lobby expansion to the Miami Children’s Museum incorporates the concept of space into the composition. The 7,000 square foot expansion provides new lobby space, staging and storage area for school groups, a new café and expanded toilet rooms, while providing the museum with a flexible multi-purpose room, suitable for presentations, expanded exhibits and gala receptions.

The expansion utilizes the same concrete tilt up panel construction method of the original building. The planets are exhibited within the terrazzo pattern of the lobby floor, while the facade incorporates an interpretation of the solar system in its window grid. The color purple is used to designate the lobby expansion mass, contrasting it with the colors used to indicate earth, wind, fire and water.

CLIENT: Miami Children’s Museum
COMPLETION: TBD
SIZE: 7,000 square feet
COST: $3.5 million