Arizona Science Center

33°26′55″N 112°04′00″W / 33.4486469°N 112.0665931°W / 33.4486469; -112.0665931

Arizona Science Center in 2021

The Arizona Science Center, at 600 Washington St in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, is a science museum located in Heritage and Science Park. It was founded in 1984 as the Arizona Museum of Science & Technology in a downtown storefront. Its current building, designed by Antoine Predock, was completed in 1997. Along with daily demonstrations throughout the Center, the Center provides shows in the Dorrance Planetarium and in a five-story, giant screen IMAX Theater.

History

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.[1] The Science Center opened its doors to the public in 1984 as a small 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) storefront exhibition space located in the parking garage level of the downtown Phoenix Hyatt. The Science Center’s first year of operation saw more than 87,000 visitors.[citation needed] Following sustained demand, construction of the 120,000-square-foot (11,000 m2), Antoine Predock-designed facility was completed in 1997.[2] When the Science Center moved to its present location, Heritage Square was renamed Heritage and Science Park.[3]

Among the museum's best-known programs is the annual Snow Week.[4][5]

In 2009, the museum reached an agreement with the adjacent, closed Phoenix Museum of History to showcase their collection.[6]

As of March 2022, Guy Labine is the museum's president and CEO.[7]

References

  1. ^ Cleaver, Joanne (1992). Doing Children's Museums: A Guide to 265 Hands-On Museums. Revised and Expanded. Williamson Publishing Company, Church Hill Road, P. ISBN 978-0-913589-63-2.
  2. ^ Trimble, Lynn. "The City of Phoenix Needs a New History Museum. Here's Why". Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  3. ^ Towne, Douglas C. "Wartime diplomacy aided Heritage Square renovation". Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  4. ^ "Arizona Science Center to turn Heritage and Science Park into a Winter Wonderland". Sonoran News. 2018-12-17. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  5. ^ Nielsen, Steve (2020-12-26). "Arizona Science Center brings back 9th annual Snow Week". Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  6. ^ Luebke, Cathy (2009-10-12). "Arizona Science Center signs deal with Phoenix Museum of History". Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  7. ^ Edgemon, Erin (2021-12-15). "Arizona Science Center names new president, CEO". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
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