With support from the Connecticut Department of Community and Economic Development (DECD), our CEO Robert Griesmer put together a team of world class professionals who have begun to help transform The Children’s Museum into a Museum for the 21st Century, unlike anything in Connecticut. Dr. John Falk, Sea Grant Professor of Free-Choice Learning at Oregon State University, an internationally recognized expert on immersive, self-guided learning through a new museum experience, is crafting the overall vision. He has consulted internationally and authored hundreds of scholarly articles and books in the field. Adam Tobin and Sam Dean from The Exploratorium of San Francisco are also guiding our future. The Exploratorium is the international gold standard for hands-on, interactive exhibits which stimulate lifelong learning among children and adults.
To design and build a new facility that offers this new experience, The New Children’s Museum is tapping highly recognized architectural and museum construction expertise. Advising the design is Jeff Bowen of Bowen Technovation, who has designed over 200 planetariums around the world and is considered one of the most innovative and forward-looking thinkers in the industry. Peter Stevens, President of JCJ Architecture in Connecticut, brings depth of design talent and a history of commitment to the Museum’s success dating back 35 years when David Jepson, one of the “J’s” in JCJ, was the Museum’s chairman. Mark Principi, President of Caldwell & Walsh of Sandy Hook, CT, who has executed significant projects in the tri-state area, will help guide the project management from vision to reality. Tom Martin, President and founding partner of ConsultEcon, an international museum financial consulting firm, is providing financial and economic expertise. He brings 35 years of experience of analyzing baseline operations, future expansion feasibility, and economic impacts for over 350 museums, zoos, and aquariums around the world.
The New Children’s Museum is well-positioned to deliver on its promise of creating the next generation of scientists, engineers, and community members with an appreciation of technology’s importance in our world.
