FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, USA /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Museum of Discovery and Science will celebrate the grand opening of a major expansion on November 11, 2011. The new 34,000-sq.-ft. EcoDiscovery Center, which more than doubles the Museum’s current exhibit and program space, offers more dynamic hands-on explorations.
Visitors can take a ride on the Everglades Airboat Adventure, experience hurricane force winds in the Storm Center, dig for fossils alongside a giant prehistoric megalodon, get close to a confrontation between a saber-toothed cat and an Imperial mammoth, learn about protecting and conserving the Everglades and Florida’s natural resources, and follow the natural path water takes through Florida. Visitors can explore the physical principles of water while enjoying the playful antics of North American river otters in their two-story indoor/outdoor habitat. The new wing also features the Mangurian Foundation Lifelong Learning Center with four labs and the 100-seat Keller Science Theater with comfortable seating and technical features to support lectures, exciting science demonstrations, and presentations by community partners.
AutoNation, the lead donor, stepped forward in 2007 with $3 million for the renovation and renaming of the AutoNation® IMAX® 3D Theater. AutoNation was followed by $2 million donations from J.M. Family Enterprises, sponsoring the Great Hall of Science, and Broward Health partnering with the Museum to create the Powerful You health exhibit that opened on November 12, 2010.
A number of $1 million donations also helped propel the campaign: Bank of America sponsored the Visitor Pavilion that was constructed in 2008; The Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust sponsored the expanded Aviation Station that came on-line October 2009; Carnival Corporation & PLC sponsored the Museum’s Coral Reef exhibit and Explorers program. Republic Services sponsored the Go Green exhibit which opened October 16, 2010; and the late Stephen A. Keller sponsored the Keller Science Theater. The Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. Foundation sponsored the Lifelong Learning Center.
Other major donors include Huizenga Family Foundation; Keith and Doreen Koenig, City Furniture; Wells Fargo; Publix Super Markets Charities; Terry Stiles, Stiles Corporation; Hudson Family Foundation; Halmos Family Foundation; Mr. Jim Oppenheimer; Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Aguero; Mr. and Mrs. Austin Forman; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Powell; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Roschman; and Sun Sentinel. Broward County, State of Florida and the Federal Government have also supported the project.
Capital Campaign Leadership
Kim Cavendish – President and CEO, Museum of Discovery and Science
Patrick Flynn – Executive Vice President of Development, Museum of Discovery and Science
Jon Ferrando – Museum Chair, Board of Trustees; Executive Vice President, AutoNation
Tom Angelo, Esq. – Museum Immediate Past Chair, Board of Trustees; Partner, Angelo and Banta, P.A.
Keith Koenig – Museum Vice Chair, Board of Trustees; President, City Furniture
Terry Stiles – Museum Past Chair, Board of Trustees; Chairman/CEO, Stiles Construction
