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Organized by the Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago in Glenview, the fun-filled day welcomed more than 500 families, “our largest turnout ever,” says Development Coordinator Mary Dzwonczyk.

“Our Women’s Board holds the event each spring as a family-focused way to raise funds and give kids a great learning experience,” she says.

Driving the imagination

Kids of all ages took turns climbing inside ambulances, fire trucks, taxicabs and construction vehicles at the May 2 event. “You can just see them fantasizing about what it might be like to turn the key and drive!” said one parent.

As a longtime supporter of the museum, Prairie has supplied a ready-mix truck for the event since its inception, says Jack Madderom, U.S. Marketing Manager. “This is just one of the ways we’ve been involved in the museum’s excellent programs for young children,” he adds.

Hands-on learning

Inside the 47,000-square-foot museum in Glenview, kids find a wonderland of exhibits that spark learning through complex, self-directed play.  Among them is the Hands On House, a walk-through model underwritten by Prairie that lets kids help construct and finish the house using simple machines.

“They can look inside the walls and floors, viewing the materials and even studying the sample blueprints to see how a typical home takes shape,” Madderom says. 

Prairie has enjoyed helping bring the museum campus to life – both as a sustaining corporate partner and exclusive provider of concrete for the building and grounds. The facility, which opened in October 2005, has earned LEED Silver certification for its many earth-friendly features. 

Building a Green Future

As they made plans for a new facility 5 miles west of their original home in Wilmette, Illinois, leaders of the Kohl Children’s Museum built sustainability into every part of their 8.8-acre campus.

Working closely with architects Booth Hansen & Associates and general contractor Pepper Construction, they made thoughtful choices that would earn the new building its prestigious LEED Silver certification. Prairie Material provided all concrete for the project in partnership with subcontractor Martin Concrete.

Green features of the Kohl campus include:

• Parking and outdoor environments that keep asphalt to a minimum, reducing the heat island effect
• Use of native prairie plants to control erosion and manage storm runoff from hardscaped areas
• Rooflines that channel stormwater to irrigate outdoor plant exhibits
• Clerestory windows to capture natural light, complemented by high-efficiency lighting fixtures
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures and use of sustainable wheatboard for the wooden trussed ceilings

“We had a great team on this project, from the design experts to the museum staff,” says Lance Tritsch, Project Executive for Pepper Construction. “The commitment to sustainability really shows when you visit the museum today.”

As Kohl President and CEO Sheridan Turner concludes, “We hope that by seeing all the steps we’ve taken to protect the earth, even the youngest visitors will be inspired to make conscious choices to be green.”