BY THE NUMBERS
BUILDING – 20,000 square feet
EXHIBITS – 9,500 square feet
VISITATION – 51,000 estimated visitors per year
BUDGET – $13.5 million
EARLY EXHIBIT CONCEPTS
Working from current educational and child development research, children’s museums combine specific learning objectives with play in informal learning environments. For the Mississippi Children’s Museum-Meridian, we envision a space that will reflect Meridian and East Mississippi and will incorporate all five of MCM’s educational initiatives.
The museum’s exhibits will focus most directly on health and nutrition; literacy; and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Aspects of the cultural arts and East Mississippi heritage will be incorporated throughout.
THE LOCATION
The site of the planned Mississippi Children’s Museum-Meridian campus will be located at 403 22nd Avenue, Meridian, MS, formerly a Sears department store. This location will be an easily accessible community convener for early childhood learning in East Mississippi.
THE BUILDING
MCM-Meridian is dedicated to providing a safe and engaging space for children, families and educators. Grounded in a well-established pedagogy, the MCM-Meridian facility and exhibits will reflect East Mississippi and combine specific learning objectives with hands-on play. Early conceptual designs present a vision of what this space could be with the needed financial support.
MCM-Meridian has contracted with Weir Boerner Allin, a Mississippi architectural firm, to design a new state of the art facility on the property. Principle Jack Allin is spearheading the design process. Jack is Mississippi native who received his bachelors from Mississippi State University and has trained in New York City, Atlanta, and Birmingham with extensive experience designing schools as well as branded institutions.
