The DoSeum - San Antonio's Museum for Kids

This children's museum has exposed structural steel, bar joist, and tilt wall panels inside and out that are part of the museum experience. The tilt-wall is the bone of the building, and many tilt-up wall panels were left exposed on the inside as well. This was the first new museum built in San Antonio in 50 years. The project is a total of 104,000 square feet, when including the exterior spaces. The project produces 30 percent of its own energy and 98 percent of its construction waste is recycled. The use of tilt-up concrete panels contributes to obtaining the Leed Gold Certification. The integral colored panels set the architectural backdrop for the museum inside and outside. The entire architectural expression of the museum evolves around the tilt-up wall panels. These walls support the second floor and the roof. They also resist the lateral forces on the entire structure including elements attached to the building. The typical tilt-up wall panel is 24 feet long. Everything always being on the module in this project made locating and installing plates in the panels straightforward. The affordability of tilt-up was the only way this new museum could be constructed within the owner's budget.