Close Modal Exciting Changes Are Coming! We’re renovating and reinventing 10,000 square feet (about twice the area of a basketball court!) of the Museum’s signature Blue Wing to create: The new Public Science Common, a state-of-the-art programming space scheduled to open in 2026. New, accessible visitor amenities. A reimagined live animal exhibition. And more!See below for upcoming impacts to the Exhibit Halls. Learn More about the Project Image Quick Links We value your patience and support as we embark on an exciting new chapter in the Museum’s history. Thank you for joining us on this journey! What does that mean for your visit? As the Museum begins these renovations, we’re committed to keeping our exhibitions, events, and unique experiences available to you. However, to ensure the safety of our guests, we are closing certain exhibits in the coming months. (Some closures are permanent, to make way for something new and exciting, while others are temporary.) Temporary Closures Engineering Design Workshop, Powered by MathWorks Closes temporarily October 15, 2024 – late spring 2025. While the overall exhibit space is closed, you can still enjoy a variety of Engineering Design Workshop drop-in activities and Design Challenges in the Blue Wing, Lower Level. Please check the daily schedule for activity times. Science in the Park Closed temporarily October 16 - November 8. What to do instead: Check out the Particle Mirror in the Blue Wing and see how graphic shapes and colors respond to your body movements, or for more hands-on fun, visit our Math Moves!, Take a Closer Look, and The Lighthouse exhibits. Low Sensory Viewing Area next to the Theater of Electricity Closed as of October 2 while we make improvements and accessibility upgrades to give you the best Museum experience possible. (Note that a new low sensory viewing area will be available in the future.) In the meantime, look for new noise-reducing headphones at the Information Desk and at the entrance to the Theater. What to do instead: There are also quieter places within the Museum (such as the Blue Wing, Lower Level), depending on the time of day, year, and show schedules. Quieter times to visit include Saturday and Sunday mornings from 9:00 – 11:00 am and weekday afternoons after 2:00 pm (during school year). Call 617-723-2500 or check accessibility@mos.org with questions.And remember, on the first Sunday of every month, enjoy a special showing of Big Bird's Adventure: One World, One Sky! featuring “Soft Light, Soft Sound.” Permanent Closures Garden Walk & Insect Zoo This exhibit is permanently closed to make way for a reimagined live animal exhibition. What to do instead: Check out our live animal collection in the Survival of the Slowest live exhibition (on exhibit through January 2), Hall of Human Life (home to our popular cotton-top tamarins and axolotls), Yawkey Gallery on the Charles River, and Live Animal Care Center, or take in one of our popular Live Animal live presentations. Museum Then and Now This exhibit is permanently closed. What to do instead: Consider visiting the iconic Mathematica exhibit, originally created by industrial designers Charles and Ray Eames in 1961. Behind the Scenes This exhibit space is permanently closed as of September 29/October 2. What to do instead: Now’s a great time to visit our cutting-edge Exploring AI and Arctic Adventure exhibits where you can get hands-on with technology in new and exciting ways. 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. See What's In Store Learn more about the Public Science Common, a major renovation and reinvention of 10,000 square feet at the Museum. Learn More about the Project
