ICAN + Utica Children's Museum

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER + NEW CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

ICAN

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER +
UTICA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

Client
ICAN
Location
Utica, NY
Size
44,000 sq. ft.
Scope
Children's Museum, Office Space, Reception and Lobby Areas, Multi-Purpose Meeting Space, Youth and Family Program Support
Completion Date
Family Resource Center: Summer 2022
Children's Museum: Spring 2025

Integrated Community Alternatives Network (ICAN) is a nonprofit organization that provides traditional and non-traditional services to families and individuals with unique needs. After joining forces with the Utica Children’s Museum to envision a bold new home for both ICAN's Family Resource Center and the museum operations, the organizations purchased a more visible building on Utica's Parkway. In 2019, CSArch was selected to facilitate the planning and design of the building renovation. Today, what once was an outdated, limited-use facility is now a modernized, centrally located center for learning, exploration, and play that is inclusive of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities.

Phase 1, completed in the summer of 2022, renovated the first and third floors of the building to house ICAN’s corporate offices and Family Resource Center. These spaces offer supportive resources for children and families, aligning seamlessly with ICAN’s mission to serve those with unique and evolving needs.

The second phase of the project renovated the entire second floor and constructed a 4,000 square foot addition to serve as the new home for the Utica Children's Museum. Exhibit spaces offer hands-on learning opportunities in STEM, art, cultural awareness, global diversity, and nature, reflecting a commitment to lifelong curiosity, active learning, and collaboration. The building addition is home to "The Climber," an engaging, two-story structure that fosters exploration, confidence, and creative problem-solving.

The museum received certification as a Universally Designed Building, the first of its kind in New York State, by the University of Buffalo IDEA Center for its accessible and inclusive design.

”This promises to be a destination that will add to the rich mix of offerings for families in the Parkway District, the City of Utica, and our region as a whole.”

Steven Bulger, Executive Director & CEO of ICAN

Opening Doors to Discovery: Celebrating the New Utica Children's Museum

On April 29th, CSArch joined partners, supporters, and community members in a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the official unveiling of the new Utica Children's Museum.

Encourging Learning Through Play

Build It Up

This hands-on space encourages kids to explore STEAM concepts through imaginative design and construction. With a variety of loose parts in all shapes and sizes, children can build, test, and discover how things come together—developing critical thinking and an appreciation for the built environment along the way.

The Climber

Kids can scale ramps, platforms, and curves, weave their way through a rope web, and discover two lookout points high above the museum floor. Along the way, they’ll build physical confidence while learning to navigate shared spaces and communicate with fellow climbers.

World Market

This vibrant market space introduces children to the cultures and traditions of communities throughout the Mohawk Valley. Through imaginative play and role-playing activities, kids explore music, art, food, and language from around the world—building empathy, communication skills, and cultural understanding along the way.

Let's Experiment

This dynamic space is all about creativity, curiosity, and invention. Open-ended STEAM challenges invite kids to tinker, test ideas, and solve problems through hands-on play. Whether working solo or collaborating with others, children build confidence as they explore, invent, and celebrate their own success.

Seasons

Celebrate the beauty of the Mohawk Valley year-round in the Seasons area, where nature’s rhythms come to life. Through hands-on exploration, children and adults alike can deepen their connection to the world around them—watching how time, growth, and change unfold with each season.

The Cove

Gentle lighting, cozy seating, and soothing colors make this a peaceful retreat for children and adults—especially those with sensory sensitivities. Designed with trauma-informed and inclusive principles, this calming space invites families to slow down, reconnect, and share quiet moments together.

Supportive, Collaborative, and Family-Centered Spaces

Youth & Family Services

ICAN's Family Resource Center provides children and families with a variety of traditional and non-traditional services. The first floor of the building houses individual and open offices, visitation rooms, and meeting spaces to support ICAN programs.

Multi-Purpose Meeting Space

Located off the main reception area, the multi-purpose meeting room is available for public use and provides a flexible space for presentations, training, and large group meetings.

Administrative Space

Office and administrative functions occupy the third floor, which features a reception area, break room, open office spaces, breakout rooms, conference rooms, individual offices, and upgraded technology throughout.

Building brighter futures for our clients.

At CSArch, we deliver high-quality, specialized, multi-disciplinary service across architecture, engineering, interior design, and construction management. We’re able to assist with a wide range of building types and projects, so whether you need us to work on a school, firehouse, laboratory, or corporate building, we’re here to help.

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