Making Waves
Children's Museum of Tacoma
A Record-Setting Project
In the heart of the Pacific Northwest, Boss Display built one of its largest and most interactive play structures to date — a 50-feet-long climbing area at the Children’s Museum of Tacoma. Conceived by design group The Exhibits Team, this twisting combination of rope, wood, and metal called for a carefully-orchestrated construction process. Every step of the project demanded a sharp attention to detail to uphold the distinctive natural waveforms of the final design.
Complex Site, Complex Build
Squeezed into an area along street-facing windows, this massive climbing structure occupies a prominent space within the museum. The sheer size of the climber required the exhibit to be assembled in place in the building itself. A window was temporarily removed to allow large structural pieces to be moved into the gallery as they would not fit through the narrow corridors of the museum. Once in place, a custom wooden framework was constructed to lift heavy metal supports for assembly.
Guests can use climbing ropes to hoist themselves up to access the second level of the climber.
Bringing the Vision to Life
Boss Display worked closely with the designers and museum staff to build the climbing exhibit exactly as it was envisioned. To maintain an overall natural appearance, large curving lines were etched into the exhibit’s wooden sides. Each beam of the timber flooring was individually stained in an array of rustic colors, with many pieces carved by hand. Once the assembly was complete, our fabricators worked together to apply a gold patina finish to each metal piece of the exhibit.
“When you make something that’s never existed before, there are going to be challenges. Not only did the team from Boss expertly solve each challenge, but did so with the artful diligence needed when creating an inhabitable sculpture”
Body, Mind, and Spirit
Inside the exhibit, kids climb between two zones designed to develop balance, spatial awareness, motor skills, and cooperation. Upon entry, visitors are met by a wave of wildly tilting beams. The upper netting, which is dotted with flat plywood resting pads, can be accessed through openings at either end. As a treat for those who climb up top, Boss Display installed color-changing LED lights, porthole windows, kaleidoscopes, and play telescopes displaying buildings and landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, tubes and chutes from a nearby scarf wall and ball display are cleverly incorporated throughout the climbing structure, topping off an exhibit that fully embraces the museum’s mission to honor children’s inquisitiveness and champion the art of play.
Each beam of the timber flooring was individually stained in an array of rustic colors, with many pieces carved by hand.
Features:
Lower deck | A series of wooden beams carved with footholds create a challenging tilted surface for visitors to climb.
Upper wave netting | Rope netting in the shape of a wave forms the second level. Two openings with attached ropes help guests climb from one level to the other.
Wave pipes and barriers | Round steel tubing has been bent to create organic curves along the length of the structure. Painted steel rebar acts as a safety barrier on the lower level, while serving as hand holds for climbers.
Bench seats | Logs placed on platforms at either end of the lower level offer a quick resting area.
Port windows | Nautical-style porthole windows glow with changing colors.
Seating cookies | Circular plywood seats atop the upper level netting offer climbers a place to take a quick break.
Telescopes | Play telescopes on the second level show backlit views of Tacoma and Pacific Northwest landmarks.
Kaleidoscopes | Guests can enjoy colorful kaleidoscope views from the upper netting.
Scarf wall connection | An air tube from the adjacent scarf wall exhibit brings objects from below to the second level.
Ball ramp | The upper netting level features an area where guests load balls onto a track that leads to a nearby exhibit.
Talk tubes | Stainless steel tubes with wide end openings allow visitors on the ground floor outside the exhibit to talk to those inside the second level rope area.
Blanket fort hooks | Rounded hooks beneath the lower level wooden floor offer opportunities to construct blanket floors under the climbing structure.
Other Featured Work
