September 14, 2006—The new structure for Children's Museum/Museo de los Niños San Diego began to materialize this week when 24 concrete wall panels were raised for the $25 million, 50,000-square-foot facility.

The panels, some as big as 52 x 20 feet, were tilted into place with the help of the largest crane on the West Coast. While most cranes can handle loads up to 15 tons, this behemoth equipped with a 293-foot-long boom and a 950-ton capacity, had no problem lifting the massive concrete slabs, some weighing as much as 80 tons, and gingerly setting them into place.

A second and final set of 24 wall panels will be lifted into place in a similar process next month. Children and their parents can now watch the action from their own computers as a webcam has been installed on the website at childrensmuseumsd.org.

“After four years of planning and dreaming, I was stunned and amazed to see the new building appear right before my eyes,” said Kay Wagner, executive director for the Children’s Museum. “While there is still much more work to be done, I can already visualize the atrium-style structure against the background of the Marina.”

Designed by renowned architect and downtown San Diego resident Rob Wellington Quigley as the first “green” building in downtown San Diego, the new structure—the Muse—will include a dramatic entrance bridge that spans from Island Avenue into the see-through Museum to a point 17 feet above the lower level, a glass-enclosed elevator tower that rises above the building and functions as a convection cooling tower, and an angled saw-tooth roof structure with space for future solar heating panels. Recycled building materials, water-saving devices and natural day lighting and will be additional environmentally friendly elements.

In addition to walls being raised at the new Museum, funds continue to be raised as well. A total of $8.5 million has been secured in recent months and individual donations, large and small, are now being sought. Contributions can be made on-line or by phoning the Museum at 619 233 8792. Commemorative tiles, which will become a permanent part of the Muse, are now on sale, ranging in price from $175 to $750.

Children's Museum/Museo de los Niños San Diego is a cultural and educational institution with a quarter-century history of hands-on, arts-based programs for children and their families. The new Museum at 200 West Island Avenue will include art galleries, the Museum School, the Toddler Space, Clay, Paint and Design Studios, the Tech Space, birthday party rooms, a revolving artist-in-residence space and a sit-down café. The adjacent Museum Park will include outdoor works by artists and space for children to create art.