WICHITA, KS — Landscape architecture firm Hoerr Schaudt announces EP2, the expansion and reimagining of Exploration Place, a science and discovery center. Opening in fall 2025, EP2 will be a catalyst for tourism in the region, with over 1 million expected annual visitors and an estimated annual economic impact of $45.7 million.
Located in downtown Wichita, Kansas, the 6.5-acre "destination playscape" will comprise 10 play areas rooted in Kansas' ecology and history.
To cement Exploration Place as a multigenerational gathering space and conduit for the area's identity, history, and community, the nonprofit brought in Hoerr Schaudt for its inclusive and sensory-forward design. EP2, a $25 million civic investment, will broaden the concept of what museums can be during a time when, nationwide, institutions face declining attendance.
While designing EP2, Hoerr Schaudt Principal Matthew Macchietto met with nearly a dozen community groups and brought in occupational therapist and inclusive design consultant Ingrid Kanics to ensure the playscape could be enjoyed by people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
"Exploration Place was originally created to inspire a deeper interest in science and technology," Macchietto said. "It was important to Hoerr Schaudt to ensure that no one would have to overcome a barrier to experience that wonder. When the park opens, everyone will have access to the same experiences, play opportunities, and wonder."
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Attractions include an immersive sensory garden; the Foggy Flint Hills, a hilly topography plaza with tunnels and fog; the Water Play Cascades, a series of channels, boulders, and interactive water play elements that meander down a hillside into a plaza; and the Textron Aviation Flight Adventure, a 50-foot control tower and "flying" plane. Hoerr Schaudt will also plant native and adapted perennials, grasses, and trees.
"Playgrounds are the ultimate medium for egoless design. They prioritize togetherness, community, and expression," Macchietto said. "Hoerr Schaudt's overarching goal is to elevate the quality of life and recreational experiences within these communities, creating civic amenities with a broader purpose."
