The Seattle Children’s Museum is open for play, and it’s better than ever!
In March of 2020, Seattle Children’s Museum closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As Acting Director and Capital Projects Manager, Alissa was instrumental to its re-opening in April 2022. The museum re-opened with a new Raindrop Reading Room, a snowy Summit on the Mountain Exhibit, a wind-themed Amazing Airways, the Neighborhood PAWS Vet, real theater seats in the Bijou Theater, and a fresh new Orca Cove, just for visitors under 4.
SEATTLE, WA
Alissa says: “One of my first jobs after college was at Seattle Children’s Museum. My work there kick-started an interest in design, and as a graduate student, I worked with the firm that designed the museum’s expansion to its current size. So my history with, and affection for, the Seattle Children’s Museum has always been strong. It is a highlight of my professional life to see it refreshed, renewed, and re-opened.”
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Location: Seattle, Washington
Client: Seattle Children’s Museum Board of Directors
Size: 18,000 SF Museum, 4,000 SF Support Space, at Seattle Center Campus
Completion Date: Re-opened April 2022
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Planner and Exhibit Designer: Alissa Rupp, FRAME
Exhibit Fabrication: Turner Exhibits, Ed Mah, Joe Ferry, Allison CraigSundine, Justin Thongsouk
Planning Collaboration, Exhibits Master Plan: Jill Randerson, JREM
Photos by Alissa Rupp, Allison CraigSundine, Megan Ching
“Seattle Children’s Museum had a hard reset during the COVID shutdown. Alissa helped rebuild the organization so that we reopened stronger and even more focused on how we serve our community through our mission.
She helped the staff and board articulate our purpose and rebuild operations that were not only sustainable, but also centered on our mission and values. Alissa blends field-wide strategic expertise with practical and tactical perspective.”
~ Stephanie Arduini, CEO, Seattle Children’s Museum