Explore & More – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum

Foit-Albert Associates, as the Prime Consultant, worked in association with Explore & More and Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation on the interior build out of a the new Explore & More Children’s Museum at Canalside, Buffalo, NY.  The scope of our services was programming, schematic design, design development, bid and construction phase services.

Canalside has become a popular destination for Western New York and Explore & More is one of the first buildings to be constructed. Its design is intended to recall the historic buildings of the inner harbor with a modern interpretation of spaces and aesthetics.

The Foit-Albert team completed the program of spaces for the building interior - space requirements, exhibit layout, workflows, activities and special uses; prepared documents and specifications for interiors, security, signage, HVAC, mechanical, electrical, plumbing & fire and cost estimates for each.

Explore & More has secured operators for separately managed food service.  The Foit-Albert team designed kitchen, service counter and dining spaces to the standards of Be Our Guest, the food service partner. The dining area also accommodates party rooms for Explore & More to serve museum rentals. The BFLO Store will operate the gift shop, which will serve both museum patrons and general Canalside visitors. The Foit-Albert team designed the retail spaces for this vendor.

Services during construction included project administration, RFI and ASI review, schedule review and as-built documents.

Foit-Albert worked closely with the core and shell and exhibit design teams.

The new 43,000 square foot museum in the South Aud Block of Canalside is a key component in the development of the Buffalo Inner Harbor.