Case Study: A Unique Children's Museum

The Children's Museum of the Upstate (TCMU), Greenville, SC

The Children's Museum of the Upstate opened in 2009. Conveniently offering reciprocal memberships in two locations, TCMU's downtown Greenville, South Carolina, location allows visitors to experience 80,000 square feet and 19 exhibit galleries, suitable for children ages 1-15, with components and programming in the areas of arts, humanities, sciences, health, nutrition, and the environment. The outdoor play area promotes physical activity and fun with gathering spaces, planting pockets, and a creative climbing zone. The surfacing is designed to complement the space and provide routes of travel to promote explorations of this fun, outdoor environment.

Visual Cues

Pathways help create a sense of place while encouraging movement and exploration.

Sensory Value

Unitary surfacing in sunny and shaded play areas give users more choices and sensory rich experiences.

Theming

Poured rubber complements the rubber tires use the space.

Nature Integration

Alternating loose-fill and unitary surfaces with planting pockets and landscaping increase the play value and the aesthetic appeal of the environment.