Close Modal Welcome to the Public Science Common A transformative space to expand accessibility and passion for science.The Museum of Science, Boston is excited to announce a major renovation and reinvention of 10,000 square feet at the Museum to establish the Public Science Common, a state-of-the-art convening space that will connect the public to Boston’s unparalleled scientific community. How will this impact my visit? Image The space is a critical part of meeting the Museum’s mission to inspire a lifelong love of science in everyone and to play a leading role in transforming the nation’s relationship with science and technology at a time of rapid innovation. Lead support has been generously provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Image An imagined robotics fair inside the Public Science Common. The new convening space will serve as the central hub of the Museum’s three new Centers for Public Science Learning—the Center for Life Sciences, the Center for the Environment, and the Center for Space Sciences—led respectively by directors Insoo Hyun, PhD, David Sittenfeld, PhD, and Danielle LeBlanc. The Centers will use the new convening space as a platform for public conversations, lectures, ideas festivals, student competitions, and more. Through its digital capabilities, the Public Science Common will also engage global audiences both in real time and after the fact, amplifying the Museum's on-site experiences and becoming a driving force of global public science conversations."The Public Science Common will allow us to lead the world in an exciting new direction for engaging the public with science," said Tim Ritchie, president of the Museum of Science. "It will be a place for people to bring their ideas and hopes, questions, and doubts, and a place where industry, academia, government, and the public can think out loud and solve problems together."Construction began in 2024, with a planned completion date in 2026. Flexible Systems and Technology Image One Open Hall Image Tiered Seating Image Gala/Seated Dinner Image Two Spaces Image Close-up exterior view of the Public Science Common. The principal architect behind the Public Science Common is William Rawn Associates, a national award-winning performing arts architecture firm responsible for some of New England’s most iconic buildings, including the central libraries for Boston Public Library and Cambridge Public Library, Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, Tata and Klarman Hall at Harvard Business School, Brookline High School, and Berklee Tower. The lead construction company on the project is Consigli Construction Co., Inc. Consigli has extensive experience in the museums/cultural space, including the National Air and Space Museum, the Lincoln Memorial, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum, and the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Consigli has partnered with William Rawn Associates on multiple projects, including: the central libraries for Boston Public Library and Cambridge Public Library, the Gordon Center for Creative and Performance Arts at Colby College, and Tanglewood’s Linde Center for Music and Learning. Image Read the full press release here. Frequently Asked Questions What is the project? The Museum of Science is renovating a section of the Blue Wing to create the Public Science Common. With 270-degree views of Boston and Cambridge, the gleaming, glass-walled space will allow convenings of between 300 and 700 people for a wide variety of programs and events, with retractable seating and operable partitions offering multiple options for space configurations. This is a comprehensive, multi-faceted project that fosters dynamic convenings around topical issues. When will the new space open? We anticipate opening the Public Science Common in late 2026. Will this close the Museum at any point? No. The Museum will remain open during this time. We will do the work in phases and limit disruption as much as possible. How does the renovated building contribute to the Museum’s sustainability goals? The renovation will create a more energy-efficient building in multiple ways, all in support of Cambridge’s Net Zero Action Plan and our own goal to become carbon-neutral by 2035. The renovation includes a high-efficiency, all-electric infrastructure, super-insulated CLT (cross-laminated timber) roofs with solar panels, and a new substation for reliable transition to an all-electric infrastructure. Will parking be affected at any point during construction? There will be limited parking impacts throughout the project's duration. These impacts will include some space closures on the lower level for dumpster(s) as well as various deliveries and/or removals as needed. Sometime in the fall of 2025, the top level of the garage will be closed for a period yet to be determined. How will construction affect the visitor experience? The construction will not diminish the value and benefits of the visitor experience. While the Museum undergoes these exciting renovations, we are committed to ensuring that our visitors continue to enjoy access to all open exhibitions and our full slate of events and unique experiences. We have made careful plans to minimize any disruptions and keep the Museum open throughout the construction period, all in the name of enriching the visitor experience in the long run. We thank all our visitors for their support and understanding as we work to improve and expand our facilities and launch an exciting new chapter in the Museum’s history. Are any exhibits closed due to construction? Due to construction of the new Public Science Common and additional Blue Wing upgrades, we are closing certain exhibits. As of September 3, the Garden Walk & Insect Zoo are closed to the public. We value your support and patience as we embark on an exciting new chapter in the Museum’s history.Stay tuned for more construction updates. How will this impact my visit? Find the most up-to-date information on exhibit closures on our Construction Updates page. See Details In the News Museum of Science to unveil major renovation in mid-2026 | The Boston GlobeMajor renovations planned at Museum of Science in Boston | WBZMuseum of Science, Boston announces plan for major renovation | WCVBBoston’s Museum of Science plans ‘major renovation’ and sets new path for inspiring visitors | WFXTMuseum of Science to add 10,000-square-foot multimedia venue | WHDHMuseum of Science planning major renovation with creation of 'Public Science Common' | Boston.comWilliam Rawn Associates debuts major renovation for Boston's Museum of Science | The Architect's Newspaper
