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Utica Children's Museum showing a stage and rickshaw

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Reimagining Play: How Universal Design Transformed the New Utica Children’s Museum

Utica Children’s Museum | Utica, NY | 2025 Architect: CSArch
When the Utica Children’s Museum closed its doors in 2020, it began a bold reimagining—one rooted in the belief that every child, regardless of ability or background, deserves a space to play, learn, and thrive. After years of thoughtful planning, design, and collaboration, the museum has reopened in a new home as part of Integrated Community Alternatives Network’s (ICAN) Family Resource Center. It’s more than just a new building; it’s an example of how universal design can transform spaces to allow individuals of all abilities to use them. The museum received its innovative solutions for universal design certification (isUD™) on April 29th, 2025.

Project Goals

The idea for the new museum began with ICAN’s mission to provide integrated, family-centered services in Utica. The goal was to design a space where all visitors—children, caregivers, educators, and community members—could participate equally. To achieve this, ICAN partnered with the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA Center) at the University at Buffalo, a leader in universal design. Guided by Danise Levine, architect and Assistant Director of the IDEA Center, the project team embraced the isUD™ framework—a set of goals and evidence-based solutions to make environments more usable by all.

IDEA Center's Contribution

The IDEA Center collaborated closely with the exhibit designers (i.e., Hands On! Studio) and architectural firm (i.e., CSArch) to ensure that universal design solutions were seamlessly integrated into every phase of the museum’s design. From circulation routes to tactile learning zones, the design process centered on the child’s experience, especially those with physical and cognitive disabilities and sensory processing disorders.

Features include:

  • All museum entrances are at grade
  • Oversized accessible routes and clear floor spaces
  • Strategically placed signage throughout the facility that support easy wayfinding for all visitors
  • Multisensory exhibits that invite touch, sound, and sight
  • Calming sensory-friendly privacy room for children or adults who need a quiet moment
  • Family-focused amenities, including single-user “Restrooms for Everyone” with adult changing tables
Utica Children's Museum Buildup it Up play area
Utica Children's Museum 'Be a DESIGNER' and 'BUILD it’ exhibit and activity area

Community Impact

The Utica Children’s Museum is not just a local success story—it’s a blueprint for other institutions around the country. By combining the IDEA Center’s universal design expertise, Hands On! Studio’s engaging exhibits, and CSArch’s architectural vision, the museum demonstrates what’s possible when inclusion is the foundation, not the afterthought.

As children stream through the new doors—exploring, building, learning, and imagining—the success of the project is clear. It’s not just a museum. It’s a place where every child can play, learn, and engage. Every family can feel supported, and every community can see what a truly inclusive future looks like.

IDEA Center's Contribution

The IDEA Center collaborated closely with the exhibit designers (i.e., Hands On! Studio) and architectural firm (i.e., CSArch) to ensure that universal design solutions were seamlessly integrated into every phase of the museum’s design. From circulation routes to tactile learning zones, the design process centered on the child’s experience, especially those with physical and cognitive disabilities and sensory processing disorders.
Utica Children's Museum main entrance.
Main entrance of the museum, featuring colorful signage, and a welcoming “Fun This Way” directional sign.
Utica Children's Museum front entrance pathways and the parking lot in the distance.
Exterior sloped walkway with handrails leading to the building entrance.
Utica Children's Museum Interior wall with different-sized gears showing the museum's donors.
Interior museum wall featuring variously sized gears, each displaying donor names.
Utica Children's Museum interior showing a wooden tree with hand written messages on the branches.
Colorful exhibit inside the museum featuring a large wooden tree with hanging leaves displaying handwritten messages, surrounded by interactive learning areas.

Let us help you design for everyone.

Founded in 1984, the IDEA Center is a world-renowned leader in inclusive design, offering expert solutions that prioritize accessibility, safety, and well-being. Backed by extensive research and hands-on design experience, our multi-disciplinary team collaborates with owners, developers, architects, exhibit designers, and project teams to create environments that are not only inclusive but also innovative.

If you would like to learn more about how you can incorporate universal design into your projects, please reach out to us!

Telephone: +1.716.829.5903
E-mail: ap-idea@buffalo.edu