A chance introduction has led to an exciting new chapter for KidsQuest Children’s Museum, one of the largest children’s museums in the region. The museum will soon relocate to the base of the Nuovo affordable housing development, just south of downtown Bellevue.
The move is a partnership between KidsQuest and SRM Development, the company behind Nuovo, a project aimed at providing income-restricted housing for families. SRM had been working on converting a former Holiday Inn Express into affordable apartments when they connected with KidsQuest’s CEO, Putter Bert. The potential collaboration was too good to pass up.
SRM Affordable Housing Managing Principal Conor Hansen jumped on the chance to explore the new partnership with KidsQuest. The updated design of the complex includes a museum on the ground floor with family-sized rental units on top.
“It really does make enormous sense to put a family amenity on a campus with families,” Bert said, emphasizing the museum’s role in early childhood development and workforce preparation. KidsQuest hires staff as young as 15, providing valuable job training and experience. The museum has also committed to hiring 20% of its future staff from the new Nuovo campus.
With plans to expand from its current 13,000-square-foot space to the new 40,000-square-foot facility, KidsQuest expects to serve 100,000 more visitors annually, bringing total potential attendance to 350,000.
While this project brings immense opportunity, it also presents financial challenges. KidsQuest, a nonprofit with a $4 million annual budget, will need to raise significant funds to make the move a reality.
Meanwhile, Nuovo’s first phase – backed by a $25 million low-interest loan from Microsoft – is set to open in April, offering 135 units for households earning 80% to 100% of the area median income (AMI). Future phases will serve families earning between 40% and 80% of AMI, ensuring a broad range of affordable housing options.
This post was based on information found on Puget Sound Business Journal.
Photo credit: Urban Architecture
