The Exploris Museum | Now The Marbles Kids Museum

The Exploris Museum (now the Marbles Kids 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 downtown 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 architecture and the structure itself presented other challenges as well, including construction of the barrel-vaulted clerestory roof and the 60-foot interior bouncing bridge. Placement of many of the exhibits and displays, such as a 4-ton section of the Berlin Wall, tested the project team as well. The building reflects a very high level of quality and craftsmanship for which MLB has received special praise.