| Stepping Stones Museum for Children
Norwalk, CT Mechanical and Electrical Engineers Completion Date: 1999 Architects: Centerbrook Architects
|
|
 |
The project consists of a new 18,000-ft2 children's museum complete with many hands-on interactive exhibits. Its six exhibit galleries include a 27' tall kinetic sculpture, tour of Connecticut by land, sea, and air via life-size mock-ups of a train, helicopter, and submarine, and a waterscape gallery complete with rainstorm, streams, fog basins, water wheels and dams.
The project is located on the historical Lockwood-Mathews Mansion site in South Norwalk, CT.
The driving force behind the mechanical systems in this building was to provide an interesting visible air distribution system to compliment the nature of the exhibits, while also considering low first cost and ease of maintenance. A system of "octopus ductwork" was devised to supply air to the main lobby and kinetic sculpture gallery. The octopus ductwork consists of exposed flexible ductwork supported in a manner that allows its curving "arms" to float overhead.
The focus on the mechanical and electrical systems was simplicity reflecting a very tight budget. Simple air cooled split and rooftop air conditioning equipment was employed. This permitted operation of systems without employment of a full time facilities person.