The Children’s Museum at Saratoga

When the Children’s Museum at Saratoga outgrew its original location on Caroline Street, it made a move into two floors of the Lincoln Baths in the Saratoga Spa State Park. It now occupies space that was once three original bathing wings of the historic property, making it the first major public-facing operation in the Lincoln Bathhouse since the 1990s. Bonacio Construction demoed both floors and framed the lower level to create a new entry with a custom-made round reception desk, two activity rooms, office space, and new bathrooms. The first floor’s hallway also features linoleum flooring in various colors outlining the area once taken up by the baths. A newly installed elevator brings guests to the second floor, where we fit up the space to accommodate rebuilt and refurbished exhibits and new hands-on STEM exhibits by Peter Hyde Design. Among the exhibits is a firehouse with an interactive screen for visitors to extinguish a virtual fire, a farm where children can pick vegetables, and our favorite, a treehouse (which we just so happened to donate), where children can learn about different animals. Universal accessibility was top of mind in the design, best showcased by a calming room tucked away from the other exhibits that provides a quiet sensory space for children to decompress. Bonacio Steel also added structural steel to the second floor to support the new HVAC units on the roof.

In 2025, Bonacio Construction was back at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga, this time focusing on constructing its Courtyard Playground. This interactive and accessible roughly 4,000 SF outdoor space is located just outside the museum’s entrance and was designed for children to learn and play. A concrete paver patio featuring a sensory trail will lead to the playground. Play features include an ADA-compliant swing set, musical elements, a custom playhouse, a climbing area, and sensory gardens. Picnic tables, natural wooden bench seating, and border plantings also occupy the space.