The Boston Children’s Museum is the second oldest children’s museum in the U.S. and the first green museum in Boston. The museum reopened on April 14, 2007, after a year of construction that consisted of renovations to the existing 150,000-square-foot (13,935-m2) facility and the construction of a 23,000-square-foot (2,137-m2) glass-enclosed atrium, new theater, new exhibits and a newly landscaped park.
The $47 million project utilized 25,000 square feet (2,323 m2) of 0.03-inch (0.8-mm) 22-gauge Preweathered Flat-Lock Tiles and approximately 60 custom perforated sunscreen panels made from material by RHEINZINK America Inc., Cambridge, Mass. Metal Tech USA, Peachtree City, Ga., fabricated the custom perforated sunscreen panels from 0.05-inch (1.2-mm) preweathered pro blue-grey RHEINZINK with 3 1/2-inch (89-mm) circular perforations in an offset stacked pattern. Sunrise Erectors Inc., Canton, Mass., fabricated and installed the flatlock panels in addition to installing the perforated panels.
Salem Glass, Salem, Mass., installed a 7,200-square-foot (669-m2) glass curtainwall from Kawneer, Norcross, Ga., at the front of the museum in addition to 1,000 square feet (93 m2) of glass curtainwalls to the hangar doors. The curtainwalls feature glass from Oldcastle Glass, Santa Monica, Calif.
Cambridge Seven Associates Inc., Cambridge, designed the addition to augment the strong, simple mass of the existing warehouse structure while creating a new look for the museum. The design was also meant to renew the visitor experience both inside and out while taking full advantage of the museum’s dramatic waterfront location.
The LEED Gold museum features three green roofs of plantings and organic materials totaling 6,400 square feet (595 m2); stormwater reclamation to reduce run-off into Fort Point Channel by 88 percent; new infrastructure and fixtures to increase building efficiency; and recycled, local and low-emitting building materials. Stormwater is harvested from both the green roofs and main roof for irrigation and dual flush toilets, reducing potable water demand and use by the museum by 77 percent. In addition to collecting stormwater, the green roofs improve insulation, diminish heat islands and reduce air pollution. Recycled and rapidly renewable materials, as well as materials with low VOCs, were used during the expansion and renovation. Fifty-five percent of the materials were obtained from locations within 500 miles (800 km) of Boston.
Boston Children’s Museum, Boston
Award: 2008 Preservation Achievement Award for Signifi cant Restoration and Renovation from the Boston Preservation Alliance
Architect: Cambridge Seven Associates Inc., Cambridge, Mass.
General contractor: Shawmut Design and Construction, Boston
Wall panel fabricator and wall panel/sunscreen installer: Sunrise Erectors Inc., Canton, Mass.
Structural steel subcontractor: American Architectural Iron, East Boston, Mass.
Curtainwall installer: Salem Glass Co., Salem, Mass.
Metal wall panels and perforated sunscreen: RHEINZINK America Inc., Cambridge
Curtainwall manufacturer: Kawneer, Norcross, Ga.
Curtainwall glass: Oldcastle Glass, Santa Monica, Calif.
Perforated sunscreen fabricator: Metal Tech USA, Peachtree City, Ga.
