Our dream is close to becoming reality...
Walker’s Imaginarium, a first-of-its-kind, 15,000 square foot child enrichment center being constructed on the main campus of Manning Family Children's. Envisioned and made possible in partnership with Kids Join The Fight, Walker's Imaginarium will feature two floors filled with interactive, kid-friendly exhibits, including an immersive Funky Forest, Dance Stage and Music Center, a Seacrest Studios, a Percussion Tree, Porch Life Zone, Accessible Swing powered by an interactive Mariposa Butterfly, Airboat Adventure, a Sports Zone complete with oversized games and a mini football field, a Putt Putt Parishes nine-hole mini golf course, a dedicated classroom, and a Krewe of Walker Float exhibit, designed by Kern Studios. In celebration of Louisiana’s vibrant culture, the Imaginarium will also incorporate local art and themes into its design.
The project is designed by New Orleans-based architecture firm, EskewDumezRipple+, with exhibit design by Gyroscope, a California-based firm that is expert in developing children’s museums and enrichment spaces across the country. Exhibits will be fabricated by local firm, Solomon Group, and the building will be constructed by Lemoine.
Construction progress and timeline
Thanks to the amazing generosity of our donors and supporters, Walker’s Imaginarium construction is underway, and we are making great progress on bringing this extraordinary vision to life! Building completion is expected by next summer, with several months of exhibit installation and operational readiness to follow. We are preparing to open our doors for play and imagination before the end of 2026! While construction continues, our exhibit partners at Gyroscope and Solomon Group are working hard to bring our exhibit designs to life, with fabrication and play testing under way now!
Final renderings
Seacrest Studios
Manning Family Children's has been selected by the Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF) as the recipient of one of its newest Seacrest Studios, a state-of-the-art studio for pediatric patients to explore the creative realms of radio, television and new media. The studio will be located prominently on the ground level and main exhibit floor of Walker’s Imaginarium. Seacrest Studios are charitable endeavors of the RSF, founded by radio and television host and producer Ryan Seacrest, along with his family. The Foundation aims to contribute positively to the healing process for children and their families during their stay, as well as uplift spirits of the clinical and administrative staff. Learn more about our studio plans >>
Take a virtual tour
Help support Walker's Imaginarium:
There are still opportunities to join the fight, and help support this extraordinary vision! We would love for you to get in touch with our team to learn more about giving levels, remaining naming opportunities, and programmatic support for Walker's Imaginarium.
Please contact: Kristen Robinson, Vice President of Marketing and Institutional Advancement at Kristen.robinson@lcmchealth.org or 504.896.9375.