O’Neill McVoy Architects transform a historic Bronx powerhouse into a fluid, immersive children’s museum in New York City, where curved forms, sustainable innovation, and interactive art shape a new kind of urban experience.
In a city where space is often rigidly defined by grids and sharp angles, O’Neill McVoy Architects have crafted an environment that is fluid, immersive, and attuned to the imagination of children. The Bronx Children's Museum, housed within the historic Bronx Terminal Market Powerhouse, operates at the intersection of preservation and playful reinvention. Rather than merely inserting a program into an existing structure, the architects orchestrate a dialogue between past and present, reinforcing the raw industrial character of the 1925 powerhouse while introducing a world of curved, interwoven spaces designed for discovery.
At the heart of the museum’s spatial experience is a flowing architecture that echoes Jean Piaget’s theories on a child’s perception of space. Ramps guide movement, translucent acrylic and curved cross-laminated timber (CLT) walls spiral and reconnect, and exhibition zones gently unfold. The design encourages intuitive exploration, leading visitors through water-inspired installations, across a bridge, and into a cloud-like mezzanine animated by Jerome LaMarr’s interactive artwork Bronxtopia. A pioneering use of curved CLT, digitally fabricated for precise interlocking assembly, underscores the project’s innovation while maintaining an organic softness suited to young visitors.
Beyond its sculptural interior, the museum integrates sustainability and urban connectivity. A LEED Gold certification, energy-efficient lighting, operable windows for natural ventilation, and a delicate balance of transparency and opacity ensure that the space remains environmentally responsible while fostering sensory engagement. Meanwhile, the restored powerhouse exterior remains largely untouched, except for its turret beacons—now shimmering with prismatic film and spectral LED lighting, signaling the museum’s presence as a transformative space for children in the Bronx.
