City Breaks Ground on Over $15 Million Renovation Project for Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights

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City Breaks Ground on Over $15 Million Renovation Project for Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights

Project Will Rebuild Retaining Walls, and Will Beautify Courtyard, Terraces, Outdoor Areas with Modern Landscaping for Public to Use Again

DCLA: publicaffairs@culture.nyc.gov
DDC: Denisse Moreno, 718-391-1854, morenode@ddc.nyc.gov

(New York, NY – August 13, 2024) The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) and the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced today the start of a project to rebuild the Brooklyn Children’s Museum retaining walls and to renovate and modernize the organization’s courtyard and terraces. The project addresses critical infrastructure needs while setting the groundwork for enhancing the Museum's outdoor spaces, ultimately creating 20,000 square feet of accessible, outdoor, programmable space for young people and their families from across Brooklyn and all five boroughs. It’s being supported by more than $15 million in city funds from the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and the Brooklyn Borough President’s office. DDC is managing the project for DCLA.

An artist’s rendering shows how project will modernize the Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s terrace, courtyard and outdoor spaces (Gans and Company/NYC DDC)

“The Brooklyn Children’s Museum was the first children’s museum in the United States, and we’re proud of the long-term public-private partnership between the city and the museum that has created this incredible resource for young New Yorkers and their families,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “I’m so proud of the City’s significant investment in this project to re-open 20,000 square feet of accessible outdoor space for programming and enjoyment of all. A city with extraordinary cultural assets that are open to all residents is a safer, healthier, more vibrant city. Together, we can make sure the legacy and mission of BCM continues to serve New Yorkers for generations to come.”

“We are delighted to break ground on this much-needed project that will convert the unusable outdoor space at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum into green and accessible outdoor areas for everyone to enjoy,” said Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Thomas Foley. “This project will allow the museum to offer more programming, add resting areas, and will fix the courtyard’s deteriorating retaining wall. These upcoming renovations will greatly benefit the people of Crown Heights and all New Yorkers that visit this wonderful museum.”

“At Brooklyn Children’s Museum, we believe in the power of experiential learning to spark curiosity and ignite a lifelong passion for discovery,” said Atiba T. Edwards, President and CEO of Brooklyn Children’s Museum. “We’re excited for this to a transformative space where children and families can connect with the world right here in their own community.”

An artist’s rendering of the new accessible outdoor area that will be built at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Gans and Company/NYC DDC)

The Brooklyn Children’s Museum was founded in 1899 in Crown Heights as the world’s first children’s museum. The facility serves 300,000 children and caregivers annually with exhibits and programs grounded in visual arts, music and performance, natural science, and world cultures. It is a member of the city’s Cultural Institutions Group, 34 cultural organizations on city-owned property, and receive significant capital and operating support from the city to help meet basic security, maintenance, administration, and energy costs. In return for this support, these institutions operate as publicly-owned facilities whose mandate is to provide cultural services accessible to all New Yorkers.

The renovation project will reconstruct the facility’s courtyard retaining wall system, a critical piece of infrastructure that supports both the Brooklyn Children's Museum and the adjacent Brower Park. The existing retaining wall system, which was built in the 1970s, had exceeded its useful life, preventing a significant portion of the museum’s footprint in Brower Park from being utilized for public programming and was in dire need of replacement. The retaining wall system will be rebuilt to restore access to a newly redesigned and modernized courtyard, terrace, and surrounding outdoor space. The project will create dedicated outdoor areas and space for programming and exhibits, gather and activity spaces.

The project will add garden resting areas, climbing paths, group meeting spots, and a wash station. The new outdoor spaces will encompass 20,000 square feet and will be filled with greenery, including 20 plant species, 41 trees, and more than 800 shrubs. The project also includes new landscape irrigation, drainage, storm water management, and outdoor lighting for evening events and security.

Work is expected to be completed by winter 2025.

DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley, DCLA Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, Atiba T. Edwards, President and CEO of Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Deborah Gans from Gans and Company, and Assemblymember Zinerman at the groundbreaking event at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum on August 13, 2024

"The Brooklyn Children's Museum is a truly unique and wonderful cultural institution located right in the heart of central Brooklyn,” said New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes. “I'm excited for these upgrades that will mean additional programming and better amenities. Can't wait to bring my kids when it's all done!"

“It is a beautiful day to celebrate this groundbreaking,” said New York State Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman. “We are going to usher in the next generation of environmental stewards and that is critical at this time where we are looking at the impact of climate change.”

About NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to supporting and strengthening New York City’s vibrant cultural life. DCLA works to promote and advocate for quality arts programming and to articulate the contribution made by the cultural community to the City’s vitality. The Department represents and serves non-profit cultural organizations involved in the visual, literary, and performing arts; public-oriented science and humanities institutions including zoos, botanical gardens, and historic and preservation societies; and creative artists at all skill levels who live and work within the City’s five boroughs. DCLA also provides donated materials for arts programs offered by the public schools and cultural and social service groups, and commissions permanent works of public art at City-funded construction projects throughout the five boroughs. For more information, visit nyc.gov/culture.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity, and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers, and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $33 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects, and consultants, whose experience brings efficient, innovative, and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.