The Children’s Museum of the Upstate – Spartanburg

What was once a boarded-up, dilapidated space along Magnolia Street in downtown Spartanburg, is now a 6,000 SF “wonderland” according to local media. McMillan Pazdan Smith began the project as a facade renovation to help a developer attract a tenant, and then was again retained to complete the interior renovations as well.

Our design team worked closely with exhibit designer Kraemer Design & Production, who created all statues, exhibits, graphics, and activity centers in the museum. The MPS interior designers selected all floors, fixtures, built-ins, and bathroom finishes and arranged the furniture layout. Working in close coordination, the entire design team collaborated on plumbing, drainage, and humidity factors related to the local water table. While much of the space features bright, imaginative, and playful color palettes and furniture, some historical accuracy was maintained, such as the use of clear, single-pane glass instead of tinted.

One of the major goals of the project was to add another Downtown Spartanburg development that attracts families into the urban core. Since opening, the project has consistently drawn crowds and received significant praise in local and regional media.