Making a Splash
Kentucky Science Center
The Power of Play
Water tables provide a wonderful, open-ended opportunity for families to learn through the power of play, so it's no surprise they're now considered a staple in many children's museums around the world. When the Kentucky Science Center decided it was time to replace its 20-year-old water table, the planners turned to Boss Display for everything from concept creation to design, development, MEP engineering, fabrication and installation. They gathered some additional input from their very own Curious Kids Board, who communicated with us via Skype, giving a thumbs-up to accept our early water table designs.
More Room For Fun
Like many of the projects we take on, this one posed some initial challenges. The space was small, so we had to maximize the square footage by using more vertical elements. The plumbing was in the lower level of the building, so we created an easy-to-maintain plumbing system that pumps water 20 feet from the lower level to the exhibit. And because the basement housed an old bank vault that couldn't be moved, we also had to redirect the plumbing out the door and back in again. The outcome was a success. The new water table has more loose parts and allows for more guests to play, problem-solve and collaborate, creating a win-win for kids and families.
Be in a Bubble
The center also asked us to design and build a bubble booth. Guests can surround themselves in a bubble by pulling a rope that raises a large circular metal hoop. When combined with soapy water, it creates a bubble large enough for more than one person to stand in. The speed of the hoop posed some initial challenges. Raising it too quickly meant that it might slam into the top of the exhibit. On the other hand, a slow descent was necessary to allow the water to enter the trough without spilling onto the floor. A dynamic brake was installed to control the hoop’s movements. And to make the ramp wheelchair-accessible, we shaped it like a cone.
“The water table is the big attraction, everybody is just really drawn to water especially kids... With this tremendous design here we’re going to set new records.”
A Hands-On Sensory Experience
As always, we went above and beyond to address any challenges and ensure easy maintenance moving forward. For the water table, this included multiple site visits to understand the plumbing requirements and spatial limitations. We also designed an articulate system to vacuum the soapy solution and clean the bubble booth. A big area of rubber matting was added for additional safety. The end result was a water table that provides sensory experiences and teaches cause-and-effect relationships, and a bubble booth that proves, once again, that playing with others is more fun than playing alone.
Features:
Main Water Table featuring:
Small Laminar Fountain that lifts the balls into the vortex
Interactive Fountain with wands that change the pattern of water
Laminar Jet that lifts balls into a funnel before rolling onto a ramp and dropping into the vortex
Fog Tubes that demonstrate how fog moves through a pathway of pipes
A collection of plumbing fittings, tubes, and caps that guests can use to create a system of flowing water
Dam Tabs that can be added or removed to direct water and ball flow
Water Wall featuring:
Piston Ball Lift that raises balls up the wall via a stacking process
Plinko Wall in which balls fall from track and tubes above and move through a system of tipping and turning obstacles
The “Be in a Bubble” bubble booth exhibit allows guests to create a bubble big enough to stand inside of
Other Featured Work
