PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Carnegie Science Center announced today that the new PPG Science Pavilion expansion to the Science Center will open to the public at 10 am Saturday, June 16. The $33 million, 48,000-square-foot expansion ushers in a new era of enhanced STEM programs, state-of-the-art exhibits, and public exploration of science and technology at the North Shore destination.
The PPG Science Pavilion is the centerpiece of SPARK! A Campaign for Carnegie Science Center, which was launched in 2014. Through the campaign, more than 350 donors contributed a total of $46 million for the Science Center’s strategic plan’s signature projects. PPG and the PPG Foundation generously gave $7.5 million to the campaign, supporting the addition and numerous improvements to the Science Center.
“Today, we are privileged to dedicate this dynamic building together – a building with a mission to help prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s opportunities by energizing them about science, technology, engineering, and math,” said Michael H. McGarry, PPG chairman and CEO. “At PPG, we know first-hand the importance of sparking a passion for science and math in students, as well as the need for a skilled STEM workforce.”
The PPG Science Pavilion adds several exciting features to the Science Center:
- FedEx STEM Learning Labs will allow the Science Center to expand its STEM education offerings, model best practices in STEM education for preschoolers, and inspire the future workforce through camps and classes on topics such as coding, cyber security, and river chemistry. Camps and classes at the Science Center have operated at capacity for many years, so the new PPG Science Pavilion with nine new learning spaces – one of which is a wet lab – can offer more programs for children and adults, plus host additional teacher professional development programs on STEM education.
- Scaife Exhibit Gallery, a 14,000-square-foot space, will host touring exhibitions, the first being “THE ART OF THE BRICK,” artist Nathan Sawaya’s breathtaking art exhibition crafted entirely from LEGO® bricks, which opens Saturday. The Scaife Exhibit Gallery will attract large-scale, blockbuster exhibitions that currently bypass the City.
- PointView Hall, a modern conference and event space with an amazing view of the Pittsburgh skyline, gives the City a new, prime location for meetings, conferences, weddings, and social events.
“The PPG Science Pavilion will allow us to better serve the community,” said Carnegie Science Center Co-Director Ann Metzger. “The Science Center already is the No. 1 visited museum in Pittsburgh with 500,000 visitors a year. We expect that number to dramatically increase in the coming years.”
PPG and the Science Center began their partnership 37 years ago, starting with PPG’s support of the Science Center’s predecessor organization, Buhl Science Center, in 1981. PPG and the PPG Foundation’s $7.5 million gift to the SPARK! Campaign is the single largest donation in the history of the Science Center. The PPG Science Pavilion reflects both PPG and the Science Center’s lasting commitment to education, life, and career prospects of children and the economic vitality of the Pittsburgh region.
“PPG and all the generous donors who made this expansion possible have played a key role in ensuring children and adults who come to the Science Center will enjoy a robust variety of hands-on activities and programs for many years to come,” said Carnegie Science Center Co-Director Ron Baillie. “It is a fantastic addition to not only the Science Center, but to the Pittsburgh region, and we’re incredibly grateful to PPG for their support.”
The building is LEED Gold certified by the United States Green Building Council. This means the U.S. Green Building Council has recognized that PPG Science Pavilion is a healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green building. Indovina Associates Architects, LaQuatra Bonci Associates, Turner Construction Company, and Oxford Development Company executed the design and construction of the expansion, building the structure to LEED’s environment-focused specifications. The building is coated with multiple PPG products, including PPG PAINTS™ SPEEDHIDE® interior paint, MEGASEAL™ epoxy by PPG, and more. Carnegie Science Center’s PPG Science Pavilion serves as an example of sustainable building practices.
For more information, visit CarnegieScienceCenter.Org/PPGSciencePavilion or contact Manager of Marketing, Public Relations, and Social Media Nicole Chynoweth at 412.237.1537 or ChynowethN@CarnegieScienceCenter.Org.
About Carnegie Science Center
Carnegie Science Center is dedicated to inspiring learning and curiosity by connecting science and technology with everyday life. By making science both relevant and fun, the Science Center’s goal is to increase science literacy in the region and motivate young people to seek careers in science and technology. One of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the Science Center is Pittsburgh’s premier science exploration destination, reaching more than 700,000 people annually through its hands-on exhibits, camps, classes, and off-site education programs.
Accessibility: Features for All
Carnegie Science Center welcomes all visitors. We work to assist visitors with disabilities in obtaining reasonable and appropriate accommodations, and in supporting equal access to services, programs, and activities. We welcome visitors in wheelchairs on the deck of our USS Requin (SS 481) submarine. Below-deck visits require full mobility. Hearing assistance devices are available for The Rangos Giant Cinema. Please ask when you buy your ticket. Please note that requests for accommodations should be made at least two weeks prior to your visit. For specific questions about wheelchairs, strollers, or other programmatic or equipment needs, see the ticket counter located on the first floor of the main building or contact Customer Service at 412.237.1641 or info@carnegiesciencecenter.org. Please contact Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh’s Accessibility Coordinator with concerns regarding accessibility for visitors with disabilities at the museums. On weekdays, call 412.622.6578 or email accessibility@carnegiemuseums.org.
About Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Established in 1895 by Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh is a collection of four distinctive museums: Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum. In 2017, the museums reached more than 1.4 million people through exhibitions, educational programs, outreach activities, and special events.
PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD™
At PPG (PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 130 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $14.8 billion in 2017. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.
PPG and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to PPG communities around the world. We invested more than $10.5 million in 2017, supporting hundreds of community organizations across 25 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow today’s skilled workforce and develop tomorrow’s innovators in fields related to coatings and manufacturing. Plus, we empower PPG employees to multiply their impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more at www.ppgcommunities.com.
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