KidsQuest Children’s Museum is planning to move into the Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM) building in downtown Bellevue, according to a recent press release. The two organizations have agreed on the sale of the landmark Steven Holl-designed property, with the deal expected to close in early 2026 once the review process is complete.
Until then, KidsQuest will continue operating at its current site on 108th Avenue NE while preparing for the move. The museum’s goal is to open in the former BAM building in 2029.
The larger downtown space is expected to draw more than 350,000 visitors a year. Its central location along the Grand Connection and near The Bellevue Collection will allow KidsQuest to expand its STEAM programming and serve more families across the Eastside.
BAM, meanwhile, will leave the building in late 2026 and focus on its annual Bellevue Arts Fair, one of Washington’s largest arts events. The museum is also planning an emerging artist program and seeking a new home for its collection, art library, and community events.
The agreement represents a new chapter for both organizations. The sale will allow BAM to pay off creditors and rebuild its nonprofit foundation, while giving KidsQuest room to grow. Bellevue officials have welcomed the move, noting that the building will continue to serve the public and support cultural life downtown.
“The city is excited to see that the proposed purchase by KidsQuest keeps the Bellevue Arts Museum property on a path to continue as a facility benefitting the public in the heart of downtown” said Bellevue City Manager Diane Carlson. “We’re especially pleased to see KidsQuest’s commitment as a place where arts and science collide as well as BAM’s intent to continue the Bellevue Arts Fair and arts programming in the community. This purchase agreement retains the building’s artistic roots and fosters our community’s creative future.”
In the coming years, KidsQuest will focus on fundraising, design, and planning for its future home, while BAM shifts its focus toward new programs and its next role in the region’s arts community.
Ok, now, this is a GREAT idea!! And I hope they also include things for kids more on the tweens, teen years because the current one seems to be focused in little ones. I bet it’s always going to be full and drive more dollars into that area.