Arizona Science Center, formerly the Arizona Museum of Science & Technology, was conceived in 1980 as a pilot science center by the Junior League of Phoenix. Incorporated as a private, non-profit corporation in 1982, the Science Center opened its doors to the public in 1984 as a small 10,000 square foot storefront exhibition space located in the parking garage level of the downtown Phoenix Hyatt. The museum saw more than 87,000 visitors during its first year of operations and reached more than 750,000 children and adults during its 13-year history. Some of the original hands-on exhibits are still found in the Center today.
Growth in attendance and an increasing demand for informal science education programs led to the Science Center being awarded more than $33 million in voter-approved disbursements by the 1988 City of Phoenix Bond to provide the land and construction of the Science Center's new permanent home.
Before concrete for the new building was poured, Arizona Science Center, with the assistance of a distinguished Education Advisory Committee that included representatives from the State's universities, school systems, businesses, and community groups, performed a needs assessment for science learning in Arizona. The findings were incorporated into the selection of exhibits, year-one programmatic offerings, and strategies to reach key segments of the public: youth, adolescents, parents, and teachers.
After a capital campaign that raised $19.6 million, the new Arizona Science Center opened its 120,000 square-foot, Antione Predock-designed facility to the public in April 1997. A new, voter-approved expansion of 22,500 square feet opened in October 2004, including additional classroom and gallery space. Current facilities include more than 40,000 square-feet of gallery space containing more than 300 hands-on exhibits; an IMAX Theater seating 285; a multi-media Dorrance Planetarium seating 200; a suite of classrooms; amenities including a gift shop, food service and lunchroom; and support facilities.
Over the next three years, visitors will witness and experience the exciting transformation of Arizona Science Center through its $30 million The Future of Education is Science capital and endowment program. The Science Center’s Board of Trustees has launched this important enhancement initiative to revitalize exhibits and gallery experiences and strengthen the Center’s financial sustainability. Building on the $5.2 million in bond funds approved by City of Phoenix residents in 2006 for facility improvements, an outstanding committee of community leaders, chaired by Trustee Michael DeBell, will raise an additional $24.8 million to create new galleries and exhibits, enhance public areas and expand endowment and working capital.
The Science Center began its revitalization in 2006 with the installation of IMAX technology in its Irene P. Flinn Theater, enabling the Science Center to feature outstanding films such as Deep Sea 3D, Grand Canyon Adventure 3D and The Polar Express. Continuing in 2008 the all new Dorrance Planetarium renovations included a NanoSeam Dome and Digistar3 projection and sound capabilities, making Arizona Science Center the only science center or museum in the world with this technology.
And the renovations continued through 2008 with the opening of Forces of Nature, My Digital World and Get Charged Up!, new permanent exhibition galleries that ensure Arizona Science Center remains a vital and relevant resource for our schools, teachers and family visitors.
