Mixed-use development Imperial Market’s first amenity will be a family-friendly attraction. The Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center, affiliated with the Children’s Museum of Houston, will open its interactive exhibits May 28 in the former container warehouse of the Imperial Sugar Refinery site.
The Children’s Discovery Center will have 12,000 square feet on the building’s first floor. Tracy Golden, director of development for the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center, said the six educational exhibits are aimed at children up to 12 years old and will focus on mathematics, cultural diversity, science, civic life and business, and toddler play.
“We have guides for parents [to engage with the exhibits],” Golden said.
An outdoor exhibit—titled “Can I do that?”—will open at a later date, Golden said. Although center visitors will eventually be able to park throughout Imperial Market, only street parking and the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation lot will be available by May 28.
The CMH sees about 800,000 visitors annually, but the building is designed to serve only about 650,000 a year. With about 20 percent of visitors coming from Fort Bend County, Golden said a satellite location was desired.
The Children’s Discovery Center will be capable of serving 90,000 people annually. Golden said officals raised about $3.65 million for the facility for capital construction costs and operations for the first three years.
Like the CMH, the Children’s Discovery Center will have a “Kidtropolis” exhibit where children can pretend to run for mayor, work in a diner, go grocery shopping, make a bank deposit, report for a newspaper, go to art school or assemble a car.
Steve Porter, Sugar Land City Council member, said teaching children about public office is important—particularly local government.
“I don’t think we do enough of that in Sugar Land,” he said. “One of the things important for people to know is that while national and state governments appear in the news, it’s the local governments that provide all of the services that people use.”
Exhibits in the Children’s Discovery Center display the names of businesses in Fort Bend County, including H-E-B and Mercedes-Benz of Sugar Land. Derek Brown, vice president of business development and marketing for the dealership, said the business wanted to help the Children’s Discovery Center promote science, technology, engineering, art and math, or STEAM education.
“This is a localized educational experience that the community doesn’t have,” Brown said. “We’re cutting a literal vehicle in half [for the exhibit].”
Porter and Geoffrey Jones, owner and developer of Imperial Market, said the facility will boost spending at Imperial’s retail and restaurant offerings.
“We think that they’ll contribute mightily to the mixed-use project,” Jones said.
Fort Bend Children's Discovery Center
198 Kempner St., Sugar Land
www.childrensdiscoveryfb.org
