Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Designed by Kurt Rampton, Matt Green, Monty Montague, Tom Norquist, and Chad Griffith of BOLTGROUP and manufactured by Playcore—the new Sensory Wave Climber is the first playground climber that allows children of all abilities to enjoy climbing while enhancing their sensory development.

The inclusive and adaptive design has been awarded a 2020 Good Design Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

The Sensory Wave Climber is a customizable system that can be scaled for different play spaces and budgets.

Strategically placed molded-in grips, hand holds, and transfer area provide additional support for children of all abilities to maneuver through the curvy climber.

The Sensory Wave Climber can be configured as a free-standing climber in various shapes and sizes or used to link or transfer between other play systems.

With a wide array of auditory, visual, and tactile interactive sensory modules that can be mixed and matched to customize the climber, it provides a sensory-rich play experience for all.

Playgrounds today are often challenged to provide fun and enriching play experiences for children with physical or cognitive limitations.

Many climbers and platform play systems are thrilling for some children but pose barriers for others.

The limited selection of adaptive playground equipment available today isn’t fun and engaging for many children leading to self-segregated play.

The Sensory Wave Climber provides a fun and stimulating play experience for all children with a wide range of abilities and play styles.

It is also the first playground product to combine physical climbing with rich multi-sensory experiences.

The undulating, sculptural design invites children to explore and interact.

The molded-in grips, grooves, and supports are ergonomically designed to allow children to use a variety of techniques to climb up and over.

The interactive sensory modules enable play patterns that go beyond physical with fun visual, audio, and tactile interaction.

The Sensory Wave Climber is more than just one product: it’s a system of components that can be scaled up or down to fit the playground (and the budget).

Segments from the system can also be combined to create a fun climbing transfer from ground level to an elevated platform or link platforms together.

Building on the flexibility and scalability of the system, the interactive sensory modules can be added or swapped over time to extend play value.

All children benefit in various ways from physical and active play.

Physical play like climbing has long been a cornerstone of playground equipment but many children with different abilities are left out of the fun.

Traditional equipment often lacks adaptive features to accommodate a range of ages and abilities. 

The Sensory Wave Climber is fun for children of all abilities, inviting them to climb and explore.

The sculpted entry to the climber is designed as an ADA transfer area allowing more children, including those with mobility devices like wheelchairs, to get into the action.

The strategically placed, molded-in grips and hand holds give young climbers lots of options and support as they climb.

The arching climber is sized “just right” to give kids plenty of height and thrill, while allowing parents and caretakers to monitor and support them along the way.

It is also important for children to experience a variety of rich sensory experiences during their early development and play including visual, tactile, auditory, and movement.

Children with sensory processing disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) especially benefit from carefully considered sensory stimulation and sensory relief in their play environment.

Facility managers can choose from a range of fun experiences including color mixers, adaptive music and sound makers, and moving puzzles to customize or update their Sensory Wave Climber.

Project: Playcore Sensory Wave Climber
Designers: BOLTGROUP Inc.
Design Team: Kurt Rampton, Matt Green, Monty Montague, Tom Norquist, and Chad Griffith
Manufacturer: Playcore Inc.