The Children's Museum of Sonoma County is gearing up for a major buildout at its West Steele Lane campus, a two-story expansion that leaders say will roughly double the museum's indoor footprint. The new wing is designed to ease jam-packed galleries and long school-visit waitlists while carving out room for additional STEAM programs and larger classrooms.
What the new wing will hold
The planned expansion will add about 7,400 square feet of themed galleries and program areas, giving the museum more space for hands-on science and maker-style activities. According to the Children's Museum, the new galleries are slated to include Aquatica, Explora, Motiva, Hexlandia, Luminaria and Inventica, all aimed at engaging kids across a wide range of ages.
The Press Democrat reports that the first floor is expected to feature a 2,800-square-foot STEAM-focused exhibit hall that will serve as the anchor for the new addition.
Permits, partners and the review schedule
On the city side, planning documents show the museum's expansion application, filed as PLN25-0482, is headed to a Zoning Administrator review and public meeting on June 4. According to the City of Santa Rosa, the filing lists Bisbee Architecture + Design as the project's architect, and Bisbee's portfolio notes prior work for the Children's Museum.
Why leaders say they're building it
Museum staff describe the current setup as "maxed out" when it comes to school groups, workshops and weekend crowds, officials told The Press Democrat. The outlet also reported that about 60 school groups visited during this school year and nearly 200,000 people came through the doors last year, figures museum leaders say the expansion is meant to better accommodate.
Funding, schedule and what to expect
The Unlock Potential campaign backing the project has already hit key markers. The museum says it met its initial $8 million goal in October and had raised roughly $8.5 million by January, and it has since increased its target to $9.5 million, according to the Children's Museum.
A $500,000 matching challenge from Redwood Credit Union and a longtime museum benefactor will double donations made through Sept. 30, and the organization says it submitted final construction drawings in mid-May to support a planned Aug. 28 groundbreaking and a Spring 2028 opening. The museum plans to remain open during construction, with temporary changes to its entrance and day-to-day operations while the new wing is being built.
