Kaleideum (Formerly Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem and SciWorks)

Kaleideum, the merger of two organizations, The Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem and Sci-Works, received funding support from Forsyth County to design and build a new museum in the heart of downtown Winston-Salem in 2017. Kaleideum has an enormous positive influence on the local community, and this new facility amplifies both its reach and impact.

The building concept for the new five-story, 71,000-square-foot museum is grounded in the idea of experiencing spaces from diverse perspectives. Through the innovative use of form, materials, and color, the museum embodies the spirit of the City of Arts and Innovation while embracing Kaleideum’s mission to inspire wonder, curiosity, and lifelong learning in all ages.

Located at the corner of West Third Street and Town Run Lane, the building is flanked by two public spaces, Merschel Park and Liberty Plaza, providing a link between the arts and cultural district to the north and the historic and civic district to the south. The building responds to the surrounding context in ways that support an improved downtown experience, enhanced connectivity, additional amenities, and public spaces for leisure, rest, and play. The lobby, grab-and-go café and exhibits are situated along Third Street to activate the pedestrian experience, providing not only an amenity to Kaleideum visitors but also to downtown Winston-Salem residents and workers. Outdoor rooftop areas feature an adventure playground, woven climber, and revenue-generating covered event space offering one-of-a-kind views of the Winston-Salem skyline.