If you’ve ever been to Kidzu Children’s Museum, you probably remember familiar exhibits such as the Gravitron and the Makery, but Director of Education Lisa Van Deman says the new Kidzu Launch Pad at University Mall is unlike anything that’s come before.

“We’re 8,500 square feet of awesome.” Kidzu Treehouse

In addition to old favorites, there’s a two-and-a-half story tree-house that fills the museum, as well as the climbing wall Van Deman says parents have been clamoring for:

“’It’d be great if Kidzu had a climbing wall.’ ‘Would you consider having a climbing wall?’ ‘My kid loves to climb.’ So, in answer to our community, we’ve worked with a company called Progression Climbing, and we’ve created this awesome climbing wall,” says Van Deman.

Visitors will find new niches like the Discovery Den, a quiet nook for children who might need a break from the hustle and bustle of the museum.

“This is a nice place for children to come and snuggle in,” says Van Deman. “There’s puppets, there’s tactile activities, and textures.”

And there are expanded exhibits like the Forest Theater play space.

“We are saluting the Forest Theater on UNC’s campus with our own Forest Theater,” says Van Deman. “Our exhibit curator has a friend who had worked for Ralph Lauren and is now living down here in the Triangle. She offered to make our costumes for us, so we have designer costumes.”

Van Deman says what sets Kidzu apart from other children’s museums is its connection to the local community.

Kidzu Art wall

“What really makes this place sing, and what really differentiates us, is this community celebration and reflection,” says Van Deman. “This could not have happened by an outside exhibit design firm. This is truly walking the walk of a community children’s museum. We create with the community, we listen to the community, we reflect the community, and we celebrate the community, so this really did take a village.”

Kidzu first opened in 2006. Since then, the museum has welcomed more than 250,000 visitors, while leapfrogging to five different locations, first on Franklin Street, then in University Mall. Most recently, Kidzu was forced to move from its original space in University Mall to make room for Silverspot Cinemas.

Van Deman says moving three times in three years has been a challenge for museum staffers and the families they serve.

“It has been difficult. It’s been difficult emotionally because we want to continue to serve our visitors. We know those breaks are disruptive. Financially, honestly, that’s been tough. We’re a not-for-profit, a not-for-profit that’s had to pick up stakes and move. There’s expenses incurred there, and being closed for certain amounts of time and not earning the money we need to be earning. That really has been tough.”

Now, she’s hoping supporters will embrace the new Kidzu and help make it a success.

“It’s really important that when people come here, they love it, so they will emotionally support it and financially support it.”

You can visit 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays.

For more on Kidzu, click here.