Museum Balcony Becomes Indoor Exhibit Space
Families who visit the Normal museum can expect construction through 2027 before the expanded space opens in early 2028.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Child Care
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Normal Town Council will consider a contract capped at $863,729 with P.J. Hoerr to enclose the space beneath the Children's Discovery Museum's outdoor balcony as an exhibit area. The proposal would also waive formal bidding for the museum construction contract.
Why it matters
For Normal families who rely on the Children's Discovery Museum for weekend and rainy-day outings, the project means construction on the museum grounds and a new interior exhibit space when it opens. The museum is funded in part by the Children's Discovery Museum Foundation, which would reimburse the town for the construction contract, and the expansion grew out of an exhibit master plan developed in September 2022.
The P.J. Hoerr contract is capped at $863,729, and the Boss Display water table contract was approved September 24. The museum building turns 22 years old in November and has served more than 2 million children and caregivers.
The players
Normal Town Council
The elected body of the town of Normal that votes on the museum enclosure contract and the bidding waiver.
P.J. Hoerr
The contractor recommended by town staff for the balcony enclosure, which is also handling the adjoining underpass project.
Children's Discovery Museum Foundation
The foundation that would reimburse the town for the construction contract and supports the museum's expansion.
Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District
The regional district whose board approved funding for the project through the foundation.
The details
The proposed expansion would turn space beneath the museum's outdoor balcony into an enclosed exhibit area. Town staff recommends P.J. Hoerr because the company is also handling the adjoining underpass project, and coordinating both jobs would help avoid scheduling and construction conflicts on the shared site. Demolition of existing concrete and building improvements is expected to begin immediately following approval, and the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District's board has approved funding for the project through the foundation.
Timeline
September 2022: An exhibit master plan for the museum was developed.
September 24: Council approved a design-build contract with Boss Display for the water table exhibit.
Monday: Council considers the P.J. Hoerr enclosure contract.
2027: Exterior and interior building work is expected to be completed.
Early 2028: The expanded interior space is expected to fully open with the new exhibit.
The Home Front
The enclosure follows the exhibit master plan the museum developed in September 2022, extending that plan into a physical expansion of the building. It also reflects the town's pattern of pairing public-facility work with nearby infrastructure projects, since the same contractor is handling the adjoining underpass.
If your family visits the museum, expect construction barriers and changes around the site while work proceeds through 2027 and into 2028. Plan visits around the project timeline and check the museum's schedule before heading out with young children.
The takeaway
The expansion adds a new indoor exhibit space to a museum that has served more than 2 million children and caregivers. Families planning around the Normal museum should keep the 2027 to early 2028 construction window in mind when scheduling visits.
What happens next
Council is scheduled to consider the P.J. Hoerr enclosure contract on Monday, and construction is expected to be completed in 2027, with the expanded interior opening in early 2028.
Further reading
For more on family-focused programs like this one, browse the Child Care section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pantagraph.
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