On the lower floor of the Clay Center, in the Steam Science and Technology Exhibit, children were walking among Christmas trees on a stage, putting on a play.
Meanwhile in the Walker Theater, in the back of the downtown Charleston facility, designers, architects, Clay Center board members and staff were discussing a new exhibit for the space.
Argyle Design, a Brooklyn, New York-based design firm, is working on a few new exhibits for the Clay Center, but "Kid City," the large child-friendly exhibit planned for the lower floor of the building, is scheduled to be completed by November 2016.
On Wednesday, Argyle Design took suggestions from Clay Center staff and board members as they prepared to move forward in the design process.
Argyle Design's Michael Joyce stood in front of a drawing of the potential exhibit and explained what the firm is looking to build.
The exhibit will be representative of West Virginia and will feature a number of spaces designed for children 8 and under, to help them explore the real world.
"This is real life that they're experiencing, in a world that's designed for them," said Kathy Bush-Morris, vice president of development for the Clay Center.
Children will be able to play on firetrucks in the emergency garage, cross a make-believe river on two bridges, one designed to look like the New River Gorge Bridge, go to the bank and the theater, treat patients in the hospital, fix a car, go to the grocery store, climb on some rocks, build a house, heal cats and dogs at the vet, fix a meal at a diner and learn about government in the capitol, all while their parents sit in the plaza and watch.
"It's designed so that there are no nooks and crannies," Joyce said, explaining that, while parents could play with their children, the children also would be safe exploring on their own.
The various exhibits in the space are designed so that they can be picked up by sponsors and used for education. One of the local banks might sponsor the pretend bank, for example.
"We want it so that it constantly changes," Joyce said. "It should look different every time a visitor comes."
The new "Kid City" exhibit is just part of redesign plans for the Clay Center. In November 2017, the first floor will see a makeover, with new exhibits on water, health and fitness, and art and theater.
"It's getting kids interested in something they can sink their teeth into," said Cheryl Bartholow, of Argyle Design. "Getting them creating."
By next November, the Clay Center hopes to have a climbable sculpture in the atrium, designed by Spencer Luckey. A picture of one of Luckey's older sculptures had a Post-it note with a comment on it saying, "I like it!"
"I think it's really important to give every family and child a chance to explore in a creative way," Bush-Morris said.
The museum, which was built in 2003, is in need of some fresh exhibits, said Kanawha County Commissioner Dave Hardy, who has been on the Clay Center board since 1995.
"The Clay Center's museum is due to be refreshed, and this is an exciting opportunity to improve on something that is already excellent," Hardy said.
Al Najjar, president and CEO of the Clay Center, agreed.
"We have a great museum right now, but museums have to upgrade and bring in new things." Najjar said. "With performances, you can always bring in new gigs, with museums, you have to bring in new exhibits."
Argyle Design is in town to get feedback from community members about the design. On Wednesday, designers talked to educators, today they're going to talk to some families. But even when designers are in Brooklyn, they get feedback from Najjar.
"It's been a very organic process," Najjar said. "It's been talking back and forth."
Next to the designs, there were blue and orange Post-it notes that allowed guests to comment on the design. One asked if the fake trees in the exhibit would be West Virginia native trees. Another asked if there would be nets underneath the climbing wall.
All comments were in the name of improving the Clay Center.
"All great cities have great science museums and children's museums," Najjar said, "and the Clay Center plays a role in that."
Reach Dan Desrochers at dan.desrochers@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4886, or follow @drdesrochers on Twitter.