National Building Museum Playground Turns Engineering Into Summer Adventure

The National Building Museum's Playground has transformed the museum's Great Hall into a 36,000-square-foot immersive environment for climbing, building, and exploration. Open through Aug. 30, the installation features nine interactive play areas designed by Snarkitecture, with pro bono structural engineering by Thornton Tomasetti. 

Our structural engineers developed a freestanding support system for the museum’s largest installation to date. We designed a subfloor system that includes a 30-foot platform spanning the museum’s historic fountain because the historic fountain could not support additional loads and stabilized the installation without anchoring it to the ground. Using readily available wood members and lightweight components, the system was designed so museum staff could assemble it safely. 

The project demonstrates how structural engineering can support ambitious temporary installations. The result is a playful, high-impact museum experience where design, engineering, and public engagement meet.

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