The Minnesota Children's Museum has hired Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle of Minneapolis as design architect for a $26 million expansion and renovation of its building at 10 W. 7th St.

Plans call for the addition of a physical adventure gallery with a four-story climber and an entire floor dedicated to imagination and creativity. The renovation also includes an expanded early childhood gallery and enlarged and updated public spaces.

"The design approach created by MS&R not only addresses current facility and operational needs, but also casts a vision for the future that will help serve the children and families of Minnesota for years to come," said Dianne Krizan, museum president.

The upgrade comes as the museum set an attendance record during its most recent fiscal year with 432,236 visitors. MS&R has designed the Mill City Museum, the Bakken Museum and the Children's Museum's former homes at Bandana Square and the Itasca Building.