Group explores discovery center progress
Nov. 30—The St. Joseph community got a look on Thursday at the future of the Plymouth building in Downtown, the 40,000-square-foot Children's Discovery Center by the Mosaic Life Care Foundation.
The building, with three main levels plus the mezzanine above the first floor, will include interactive exhibits on each floor that are modular in nature and designed to be continually updated. For example, the first floor is oriented around exploration and physical activity, and the second floor is a community simulation, a "town square" full of "shops."
Except in a small retail space by the Felix Street entrance, no actual food or consumer goods will be vended. Instead, the floors will be configured for children to imagine themselves in a grocery store, or a scene that resembles the Missouri Theatre, where they can dress up and pretend to be actors on stage.
"I think it could be an anchor for this Downtown area," said C. Daniel Smith, one of the Thursday tour attendees. "I think what we need is something that attracts families, that attracts people from away that will come in and realize what a community that we have here. What a place this would be for young families. We want to see this community grow."
Julie Gaddie, president of the Mosaic Life Care Foundation, conducted the tour. She explained how the $19 million project will require about another year to complete, with a fourth-quarter 2024 opening date envisioned. Progress has been gradual on a number of areas, such as on maintaining the high vaulted ceilings in original form. Other changes are needed for children running around to have soft surfaces in their path; most of the original brick will be covered up. Key contributors like the Missouri Department of Economic Development have provided grants, in the department's case, for $484,796.
"We've been very fortunate to work with partners to bring to life this experience for folks," Gaddie said. "We have an amazing building to work with, but obviously, when you take on this large of a building and you're re-purposing it into something so interactive, this building will serve this capacity in this community for many years to come."
Lehr Construction Co. is the general contractor. More information is found on mlcfoundation.com.
Marcus Clem can be reached at marcus.clem@newspressnow.com. Follow him on Twitter: @NPNowClem
