As travelers return to Mineta San José International Airport, families with young children can now safely get their pre-flight jitters out thanks to a new play space created by Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. A new educational play space called Zoom Zone is now open in Terminal B, created with sponsorship funding from Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (Zoom), and designed around the belief that many children have never flown on an airplane and are fascinated by what they see in the sky.
“We are extremely proud to introduce this new addition to our Airport experience, said SJC Director of Aviation John Aitken. Zoom Zone is a fun, safe, and clean space for traveling families, and its’ creation – from funding to design to construction -- highlights the commitment of Silicon Valley businesses to our local community and to the Airport.
More than $1.2 million in pro bono and discounted services made this project possible. The Airport is providing the space at no cost and general contractor Hensel Phelps Construction managed the project pro bono and secured sub-contractors from electrical to mechanical that donated or discounted their services.
Zoom, one of Silicon Valley’s fastest growing companies, stepped up as the presenting sponsor with a gift of $240,000.
“We couldn’t be more proud to be at the Airport and to support families traveling into and out of San Jose with a place designed especially for children,” said Executive Director of Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose Marilee Jennings. “But it would not be possible without the vision of so many – the Airport staff, Hensel Phelps Construction and their sub-contractors, and certainly our presenting sponsor, Zoom. It’s truly a Silicon Valley ‘barn-raising’ that demonstrates San Jose’s commitment to children and families.”
Zoom Zone, a 600-square-foot space located in Terminal B between Gates 24 and 25, will engage youngsters by encouraging them to think about the creatures and objects that fly, while experimenting with the roles that air, wind, wings, and design play in flight. An added bonus is that little ones will get their wiggles and giggles out with experiences that engage gross motor movements before boarding a plane.
FEATURES OF ZOOM ZONE:
- Pin Screen: A signature experience at Children’s Discovery Museum. Works of art created by pushing on plastic pins is only limited by one’s imagination.
- Alphabet Airplane: With look-alike airplane window shades, this shadow-box system is mounted on a wall graphic in the shape of an airplane. When children lift the shades, they discover objects that represent a destination that begins with the corresponding letter. For example, T is for Tokyo.
- Kinetic Butterfly: Youngsters get a close view of how butterfly wings work with a set of gears that activate sculptural butterfly wings.
- Bird Climber: Children see a 360-degree perspective of flight by climbing on top of this bird, sliding down its tail feathers and crawling underneath its wings.
- Zoom Plane: Children can role-play as a pilot in the cockpit of this biplane.
