The Monroe School, a U.S. Historic structure at the heart of downtown Phoenix, was an ideal adaptive reuse for the first Children’s Museum of Phoenix. Constructed in 1914, the bold neoclassical-style was once attended by famed abstract impressionist artist Jackson Pollack. This inspired an abstract expressionist lighting design that animates the grandeur of this historic street front and communicates ‘its newfound life within’ outward to the City’s Historic Cultural District at night. During the day, the historic school-front could have been enlivened again by visiting school children with new SHPO-approved ADA-compliant Grand Staircase for school bus arrivals / departures visiting the Children’s Museum. The rear Origami Roof Canopy is an extended invitation to Van Buren Street / Museum’s main parking lot as the new Entry through ticketing / gift shop within the centrally located three-story 1980’s addition which was opened up as a full-height Atrium with sight lines into the entire repurposed Monroe School. The Grand Atrium connects all three floors of Museum Exhibits and play areas vertically, while the added rear Grand Staircase / Elevator bank connects past, present, and future families for generations to come.