Stepping Stones Museum for Children
Stepping Stones Museum for Children is a hands-on children's museum for ages 10 and under. The museum is located on 303 West Avenue, in the Central section of Norwalk, Connecticut.
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| Established | 2000 |
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| Location | 303 West Avenue Norwalk, Connecticut, United States |
| Type | Children's museum |
| Website | www.steppingstonesmuseum.org |
Its interactive exhibit areas include a theater, a broadcast studio, and a high-definition screen.[1] Exhibits include an exploration area for toddlers and a "Family and Teacher Resource Center".
The entrance lobby houses the ColorCoaster, a 27-foot (8.2 m) kinetic sculpture designed by artist George Rhoads.
The garden features three Kinetic Energy Sculptures designed by Beinfield Architecture, which use local solar, wind and water energy.
In 2011 the museum received LEED Gold Certification. Recognized by the Governor of Connecticut as one of the first projects in the state to achieve LEED Gold status. The design employs a range of solutions, from energy efficiency and use of alternative energy sources.
The museum is located in Mathews Park, adjacent to the Lockwood–Mathews Mansion.
History
Stepping Stones was founded in 2000 by Gigi Priebe.[2] In its first 10 years of operation, the museum received two million [1] visits.
The museum underwent a $17 million renovation in 2010, which closed Stepping Stones from August 17 to late November (with a "grand reopening" on November 20) and resulted in a 22,000-square-foot (2,000 m2) expansion, roughly doubling the indoor space of the facility. The project, designed by Beinfield Architecture, enhanced the Museum with a natural, energy-efficient work environment. The project utilized recycled from locally-sourced materials and included the construction of a forty-foot screen multi-media theatre and communication facility, an interior telescope for viewing rooftop plant and animal life, and three garden “follies” utilizing solar, wind, and water energy.
The museum received LEED Gold status in 2011, as well as Green Advocate and Merit awards from The Connecticut Green Building Council, citing the project team's “commitment to sustainability from the outset, an attitude that clearly impacted every decision, from design through construction and beyond. The function of the institution as a children's museum also offers the opportunity to educate and energize young minds about these goals both during construction and on a daily functioning basis.
Notes
Renovations were made to the Tot Town and Healthyville exhibits;[3]
The "Energy Lab" exhibit replaced the "Water Scape" exhibit; the "Rainforest Adventure" exhibit formerly a permanent installation will be housed in a wing for traveling exhibits.[3]
See also
References
- Hennessy, Christina, "Renovated Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk is bigger, better", November 18, 2010, Connecticut Post and Danbury Times and Stamford Advocate, retrieved from the Connecticut Post website on November 21, 2010
- Web page titled "About Us" at the Stepping Stones Museum for Children website, retrieved November 21, 2010
- Kobak, Steve, "Children's Museum reopens to public", pp 1, A6, The Sunday Hour, November 21, 2010