As a native El Pasoan, the opportunity to create something of lasting impact for the city I grew up in is extremely rewarding
– Elaine Molinar, partner and managing director, Snøhetta

The Arts District in El Paso, Texas is to welcome a new addition in the form of the El Paso Children’s Museum, which will sit between the El Paso Museum of History and the El Paso Museum of Art.

Norway-based architectural practice Snøhetta have been selected to design the new museum, which will aim to engage children and families from El Paso, Ciudad Juarez, the American southwest, and the nearby Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora.

The design will reflect the will of the museum to celebrate the city’s multicultural community and create an environment for STEAM education and critical thinking.

The new museum will stretch to approximately 80,000sq ft (7,432sq m) and will feature interactive displays and exhibits, child learning centres with interactive sound and wind tunnels and a 40-foot climbing wall.

"As a native El Pasoan, the opportunity to create something of lasting impact for the city I grew up in is extremely rewarding," said Elaine Molinar, partner and managing director of Snøhetta.

"We are thrilled to be the designers of the new children’s museum, to become part of the rich architectural legacy of downtown El Paso, and to contribute to its thriving future."

In 2012, El Pasoans voted for a Quality of Life Bond program, which included a new children’s museum as one of its signature projects.

Earlier this year, the City Council approved additional funds to construct the museum after private-sector stakeholders pledged to double their contributions to US$20m (€17.5m, £15.4m).

The total cost of the project is expected to run up to around the US$60m (€52.4m, £46.2m) mark and the museum is expected to open in Q4 2021.