MULTI-AWARD WINNER. The Children's Museum of Eau Claire was recognized once again for its innovative look, its groundbreaking engineering efforts honored at the SEE Awards in Seattle. (Submitted photo)

The new Children’s Museum of Eau Claire isn’t just an outstanding place for kids to play and learn: It’s an outstanding piece of architecture, too. That’s according to the National Council of Structural Engineers Association, which recently honored the museum with two awards – the 2023 Outstanding Structure of the Year and Outstanding Structure in the New Building Under $30M Category.

The honors came at the Structural Engineering Excellence Awards ceremony in Seattle on Nov. 9. The new Children’s Museum, 126 N. Barstow St., which opened in early January, is a one-of-a-kind building: The two-story, 26,000-square-foot space is built from structural round timber (SRT) instead of the more commonly used steel beams, and it is carbon neutral thanks to more than 300 rooftop solar panels and about 20 geothermal wells.

The Outstanding Structure of the Year award recognizes innovation, creativity, and engineering achievement in the structural engineering profession.

“The building project has been truly amazing for our entire region.”

MIKE LEE

INTERIM CEO, CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF EAU CLAIRE

Seattle-based engineering firm, KPFF, pulled off the first-ever use of SRT in a two-story building and accepted the awards at the event. Wisconsin-based company WholeTrees Structures and nationally recognized architecture firm Steinberg Hart also played major roles in the award-winning building.

“The building project has been truly amazing for our entire region,” Mike Lee, the museum’s interm CEO, said in a media release. “We have already served over 100,000 people this year, an increase of 135% from the peak at our previous location – with much more engagement not just among kids, but the entire family, with the facility and exhibits – something we can certainly attribute to the natural feel of the new space.”

KPPF’s Erik Lofthus said the museum now opens the door to “a world of possibility” for SRT to replace more conventional steel systems in multi-story structures.

View all of this year’s SEE winners online. Learn more about the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire on its website.