Hasbro Board Game Place

The Strong National Museum of Play is one of the largest and most influential history museums in the United States, dedicated to exploring the cultural, social, and educational impact of play. In June, the museum celebrated the grand opening of a major 90,000-square-foot expansion as part of the Neighborhood of Play transformation in Rochester, New York.

A standout feature of this expansion is the Hasbro Board Game Place, which blends indoor and outdoor interactive experiences inspired by classic board games. Serving as a dynamic outdoor focal point, the exhibit invites visitors to engage with a larger-than-life board game environment designed to spark curiosity and playfulness before they even step inside.

At the heart of the outdoor experience is a 15-foot, fully playable version of Chutes and Ladders, mounted vertically as an interactive wall feature. The design and fabrication team developed many of the components in-house, including the game board, console base, and all interactive engineering. The exhibit’s interactivity incorporates lighting, buttons, and sound effects that respond to player actions, creating an engaging, multisensory experience.

iZone Imaging’s Custom High-Pressure Laminate (CHPL) was selected for key graphic elements, including the title signage, Hasbro logo, “Start” and “Winner” titles, and the console top. CHPL was chosen for its superior graphic quality, durability, and resistance to graffiti—essential qualities for an outdoor, high-touch public exhibit.

Inside, visitors encounter the Hasbro Board Game Place, a 1,000-square-foot interactive gallery that explores the history of board games and their influence on social connection and play. Together, the indoor and outdoor elements create a cohesive experience that celebrates gameplay at every scale.

Special recognition goes to Matt Drew for fabricating the board and console base; Tom Kaminski for programming the interactive lighting, buttons, and sound effects; Allie Cervantes for the visual design; Mike Streb and JP Dyson for project oversight; and Takeform for producing and installing the wallpaper.