Construction reaches half-life
This time next year, visitors are expected at new museum
It wasn’t that long ago the space that will soon house the Da Vinci Science Center was a simple parking lot between Eighth and Hamilton streets in downtown Allentown.
This time next year, visitors from far and wide are expected to be visiting the interactive museum. The project celebrated a milestone Tuesday afternoon with a topping-off ceremony, marking the part of the construction when the final structural beam is raised into place, completing the building’s frame.
The ceremonial beam was signed by those who attended the ceremony, including Da Vinci employees and board members, construction workers, city and school district officials and people from downtown businesses.
A crane then lifted it into place and workers from Alvin H. Butz Inc. secured it to the frame that is now towering over Hamilton
Street.
Besides the signatures from those attending the ceremony, the beam was decorated with a plush river otter — symbolizing the center’s live river otter exhibit. An artificial pine tree, paying homage to the Scandinavian topping off tradition, was also attached.
“We’re celebrating this milestone today thanks to strong leadership from our board who believes in the positive impact a new science center can have on our community and the dedication and hard work by our staff who’ve been developing and will execute the plan for a world class science center,” said Lin Erickson, Da Vinci director and CEO.
Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion will be three stories, with more than 30,000 square feet of exhibit space where visitors can experience exhibits ranging from the inner workings of the human body to the complex relationship
of humanity and the natural world.
The Lehigh Valley Health Network My Body exhibit will highlight the latest advancements in health care and medicine.
Other main exhibit areas include Curiosity Hall, Science in the Making and Lehigh River Watershed, as well as the Da Vinci STEAM Learning Center, an incubator for on-site and community-based programming in the integration of the arts with science, technology, engineering and math.
Mayor Matt Tuerk was pleased the center will include an early learning center and give children from the city and beyond a chance to understand how science, technology, engineering, arts and math impact their everyday lives
“I share the value of nurturing a welcoming city so I appreciate the emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility, which highlights the science center’s dedication and creating a sense of belonging in our diversity,” Tuerk said.
The new location will have three times the amount of exhibit space as the location at Cedar Crest College, which opened in 2005.
It is expected to attract 400,000 annual visitors, create 487 full-time jobs and bring in $33 million of economic output.
Da Vinci officials announced their intent to build a second location in 2016 after attendance increased 70% from 2009-15 at the Cedar Crest location.
Leaders first planned a nearly 100,000-squarefoot location in downtown Easton, but those plans fell through in 2019 when the city pulled funding for the site.
Later that year, Da Vinci officials announced the downtown Allentown site.