The Exploris Museum now the Marbles Kids Museum

The Exploris Museum is the world’s first global interactive museum and hands-on learning center for children and adults. The facility contains a mixed use of materials including brick walls, LIES glass, colored concrete, and a structural steel and bead panel system which is backlit at night. The entry consists of stone pavers and brick pavers and incorporates a terrazzo world map in the building. There is also a stream running through a recreational area and entry court. The down-town Raleigh site is bordered on three sides by busy active streets which, of course, made site access a challenge for all parties involved. The uniqueness of the architec-ture and the structure itself presented other challenges as well to include construc-tion of the barreled clerestory roof and the 60 foot interior bouncing bridge. Placement of many of the exhibits and displays, such as a 4 ton sec-tion of the Berlin Wall, test-ed the project team as well. The building reflects a very high level of quality and craftsmanship for which MLB has received special praise.