Science Center Holds "Ground-Booming" For New Expansion Project

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Drummers with the Pittsburgh Schiller STEAM Academy lead the way up the path behind the Carnegie Science Center.

They're followed by the Perry High School drum line.

They're beating the drum for a planned expansion of the Science Center.

Science Center Board Chair Jerry Whitaker says the current building, which opened 25 years ago, has simply run out of space.

"We're going to have a very large exhibition space, because there are exhibits that travel the country that cannot make it to Pittsburgh because we don't have a venue large enough to house it. Now we do," he says.

The four-story structure will include STEM learning labs for youngsters.

How did they finance the project?

"We asked people for money," says Suzy Broadhurst, chair of the volunteer committee.

She says volunteers raised $35 million for new construction.

"Nobody said no. And we even had people saying you're not asking for enough, because this is such an important thing for the city," she said.

Anyone can have a groundbreaking. Not at the Science Center. As a grand finale to the event, liquid nitrogen sets the stage for a ground "booming."

Construction is expected to take two years.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter