Above / The DuPage Children’s Museum is located at 301 N. Washington St. near the Naperville Train Station.
DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) experienced a major internal flood that damaged most of its 50,000 sq. ft. facility and exhibits in Naperville, IL. Now, after eight months of redevelopment, a re-imagined Museum will officially reopen to the public at 9AM on Saturday, September 19, 2015.
Now in its 28th year as a beloved learning destination for children and parents, the Museum serves over 300,000 visitors annually from all 50 states, and from 575 zip codes just in Illinois. A recognized national leader among Children’s Museums, DCM has painstakingly and professionally designed the innovative, research-based exhibits designed to ignite the learning potential of all children through hands-on exploration, focusing on science, math, and art. Through its outreach, the Museum extends its early learning programs throughout the western Chicagoland region in partnership with more than 100 school and 60 community service organizations.
Consistent with its reputation for innovation creativity, DCM turned its three levels of flood damage into an unprecedented opportunity to re-imagine and redevelop many of its most popular custom-designed exhibits. The process was long, difficult, and complex. “Team Recovery,” a multi-disciplinary task force comprised of DCM staff, board of directors, donors, industry professionals, and volunteers, went to work immediately.
Major Challenges
The first challenge was damage and environmental assessment, drying out and cleaning up, demolition of damaged areas, and making the premises safe for the work to come. Then came countless meetings for the DCM staff with architects, insurance representatives, and the construction team to plan the re-imagined areas and exhibits.
The second challenge was to find ways to continue providing the early learning exhibits and programs to our member and visitor families, schools, and community service partners.
–Solution #1 came from Westfield Fox Valley Mall in Aurora, IL. Within four weeks after the flood, “DCM@ The Mall,” a 3000 sq. ft. satellite museum, opened there to the public and welcomed almost 55,000 visitors leading up to closing on September 7th.
–Solution #2 was directed to DCM’s school partners. Cancelled field trips to the Museum were replaced by “Learning Labs” delivered on each school’s premises by the DCM staff, and by hosting promised Summer Camps in other off-site locations.
The third challenge was expectedly financial. Over $3 million in damages and lost admissions revenue had to be replaced from insurance coverage, fundraising, exact budgeting—and most importantly, a new strategic plan: “Vision 20/20,” a road map that would lead the Museum organization solidly into the next decade and beyond in a rapidly changing environment.
Above / Youngsters will experience discovery through “re-imagined” interactive displays. (PN File Photo)
In Appreciation
None of the above challenges would have been met without extraordinary and broad support from so many parts of the regional community, working as “Team Recovery,” to re-imagine and rebuild this beloved Museum.
Special thanks are due to the exhibit firms Architecture is Fun, Fun Finders, Chicago Scenic Studios, Superior Exhibits and Design, Inc.; contractors Spectrum and Graycor; contributing artists Mollie Z, Jodie Davis, Emmy Star Brown, Margaret Swedzikowski, Laura Lynne, Larry Zgoda, Luftwerk, and Yan Ping.
In addition, DCM is extremely grateful to its hundreds of member families and other residents who sent in contributions and encouraging notes; our board of directors and donors; and the enormous group of volunteers, business and media partners, school and community partners, and government officials across the region—and especially the City of Naperville for all of their incredible support. As a result of their dedication, no taxpayer dollars will be spent for the DCM recovery.
Lemons into Lemonade—A Re-Imagined Museum
During the temporary closure, DCM listened to its audiences and incorporated many comments and suggestions into the re-imagined Museum experience. Highlights include:
–A completely redesigned lobby will welcome members and visitors with bright new colors, friendly staff, and The Explorer Store, a permanent place to purchase unique toys that foster learning.
–DCM “Neighborhoods” including Creativity Connections, Make It Move, and Build It will include fun new features alongside familiar favorites. A new exhibit called Shadow Sand will use technology so that children can play with “virtual sand” using their physical bodies to create shapes and movement, making art playful and thought provoking.
–A new Good Show! Gallery will feature children’s works of art in addition to those from many local and national artists, and will be a lovely space for party rentals.
–“The Studio” will be open more hours so that children can use their curiosity and creativity to create a masterpiece. What was formerly called The Round Room has been transformed into The Wonder Room–all about color, shadow, and integration of light.
—The Big Lawn, another beautiful new space, is a gross motor play area and pays homage to a bridge located in downtown Naperville. It offers parents a resting place and an expression area for children.
–The popular S.M.A.R.T. Café, our fueling station for the body and mind, has a fresh face and new program experiences. It will continue to offer high-quality food, with choices that are free of nitrates, harmful preservatives, and antibiotics.
—Program Rooms and School Labs have been re-imagined and re-built featuring beautiful murals painted by renowned artists, and new paint and flooring.
–Math Playground is a new one-year temporary exhibit that will complement DCM’s existing Math Connections and Math Young Explorers neighborhood, providing more full-body experiences that relate to geometry, spatial relationships, numeracy, and patterns. Tie-ins include music (rhythm), games, and shapes.
—The Family Room, formerly the The Family Resource Center, will provide new learning resources and play experiences for children and adults in a colorful and comfortable re-imagined environment.
–A renamed and remodeled Mayor A. George Pradel Volunteer Center will delight DCM’s nearly 1,000 volunteers.
–Coming this November, DCM will open AWEsome Air, followed by AWEsome Water in spring 2016. When completed, AWEsome Energy will be the largest single exhibit in DCM’s history, taking 25% of its total exhibit floor.
–In January 2016, DCM will host Children of Hangzhou: Connecting with China, a nationally renowned traveling exhibition designed to engage children and families in learning through play about one of the world’s oldest civilizations—now among the most modern—through some if its youngest people. Created by Boston Children’s Museum, the exhibit is part of the Freeman Foundation Asian Culture Exhibit Series. The exhibit will be at DCM through May 2016 before continuing on a three-year, eight-city U.S. and Canada tour.
–Consistent with DCM’s mission, “By integrating art, math, and science, DuPage Children’s Museum ignites the potential of all children to learn through hands-on exploration,” and to meet the increasing demand for its early learning expertise, especially its highly acclaimed professional development programs, the Museum leadership is developing the “DCM Learning Institute.” It will share its decades of experience in creating playful learning environments for children—along with current research to inform adults (parents, caregivers, and childcare and education professionals) of best practices in integrating hands-on learning experiences in science and math and art.
Grand Re-Opening Schedule
The exciting line-up of events planned for the reopening celebration week include Naming and Ribbon-Cutting of the Mayor A. George Pradel Volunteer Center (By Invitation) on Wednesday, September 16th, VIP First Look Open House (By Invitation) on Thursday, September 17th, Members’ Sneak Peek & Ribbon-Cutting (By Invitation) on Friday, September 18, and Reopening to the Public on Saturday, September 19.
Throughout this coming fall and winter, DCM will host a variety of exciting child and family activities, programs, and events including ART All Day–Every Day, Family Fun Friday Nights, Creativity Classes, Professional Development Workshops, Tiny Great Performances™, School’s OUT!– Camps are IN!, and the highly anticipated Bubble Bash 2015.
Stay tuned for more details as the Grand Re-Opening approaches. Check DCM’s website for updates at www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org and follow DCM on Facebook and Twitter.
About DuPage Children’s Museum
DuPage Children’s Museum is more than a Museum…we’re a force for early learning! The Museum helps develop curiosity, creativity, thinking, and problem solving in young children through its mission: “By integrating art, math, and science, DuPage Children’s Museum ignites the potential of all children to learn through hands-on exploration.”
Interactive exhibits and programs make learning fun for children and adults playing together. DCM serves over 300,000 visitors annually representing all 50 states and 575 zip codes just in Illinois. DCM’s reach and support represent well beyond the Chicagoland area. The Museum’s impact extends across cultural, financial, and educational boundaries. It touches the lives of children from all regions providing the building blocks for success in school and life.
The Museum is located at 301 N. Washington Street in Naperville, www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org or call (630) 637-8000.
News provided by Dee Dee McDevitt for the DuPage Children’s Museum / PN File Photos
