The Powerhouse has kept its promise to involve the Durango community in every step of the ambitious renovation it launched in January.
Last month, about 30 parents, business owners and community members attended a luncheon at the children’s museum, where the first draft of its improvement plan was unveiled.
The goal is to transform the Powerhouse from a museum into a vibrant community hub with multi-use spaces for child care, summer camps, educational exhibits and events.
The Powerhouse, with consulting firm Process Curiosity, developed the plan using feedback from community input sessions in January.
Participants expressed a strong demand for more child care, inclusive family activities, improved gathering spaces and a more “Durango-centric design.”
Combining those requests, Powerhouse staff and Process Curiosity set out to design a plan to make the best use of the campus to support and engage as many families as possible, said Jeff Susor, executive director of the Powerhouse.
The plan focuses on three areas: facilities, exhibits and outdoor spaces.
The Powerhouse lost much of its multiuse classroom space after it began providing licensed child care in the Carlton Family Science Education Center, an adjunct building on the museum’s campus, said Sydnie Golden, deputy director at the Powerhouse.
Retaining that space is a critical part of the new design, she said. Having room to host the field trips, birthday parties, after-school programs and summer camps is integral to the Powerhouses’ role as an inclusive, family-friendly institution.
The new plans would open up the main exhibit space.
The historic boiler room would be converted to a welcoming entrance, and indoor restrooms would be added.
Movable exhibits and furniture would create a flexible, multipurpose area on the museum’s first floor, with classrooms being built on the second floor.
And to keep it “Durango-centric,” new outdoor play areas would be added.
Golden said the Carver Family Plaza, the red brick gathering space in front of the museum, would be updated to better host community events.
The plan is to redesign it with community input, especially from underrepresented community voices, she said.
Moving forward, planning will focus on exhibit content and design. While details are still coming, Susor said the community can expect featured topics to include electricity and space exploration.
Golden said feedback will be gathered from the most important users: children.
The projected is estimated to cost about $10 million, and over the next six months, a financing feasibility will help set the budget and determine what improvements can be realistically done over the coming years, Susor said.
He said the overhaul won’t happen all at once. It will evolve over time – and the Powerhouse will continue its regular operations throughout.
Summer camps, educational programs and community gatherings will all continue during renovations.
“It is the bread and butter of what we do here,” Susor said.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
