New 10,000-square-foot venue will bring immersive science, technology and public dialogue to Boston’s Charles River waterfront
BOSTON — The Museum of Science, Boston, will open a new state-of-the-art public venue on October 10, 2026, creating a new space for scientists, artists, educators and the public to explore some of the world’s most pressing scientific questions.
The William and Charlotte Bloomberg Public Science Common is a 10,000-square-foot civic and convening space made possible by a historic $155 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the largest gift in the Museum of Science’s history.
A celebratory event is scheduled for October 28.
Designed as a flexible space for public programs, conferences, school visits and other events, the Bloomberg Public Science Common will focus on topics including artificial intelligence, climate change, public health and space exploration.
It will feature floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the Charles River and 270-degree views of the Boston skyline, alongside advanced immersive-media, production and livestreaming technology.
“We believe the future of science is participatory,” said Tim Ritchie, Gwill York President of the Museum of Science. “Science should belong to everyone.”
Ritchie said the new venue will serve as a platform where scientists, creators, artists and members of the public can engage with one another and explore ideas that can inspire a more hopeful future.
Bringing science to life through immersive technology
The Bloomberg Public Science Common was designed by William Rawn Associates, Architects, known for projects including Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, the Cambridge Public Library and the transformation of the Boston Public Library’s Central Library. Consigli Construction Co. is the project’s builder.
The adaptable venue is designed to change configurations depending on the event.
Movable walls and retractable seating will allow the space to accommodate everything from small roundtable discussions involving scientists to school programs and large evening events with a performance stage.
At its center is an immersive media environment combining large-scale displays, spatial audio and real-time data visualization.
The Museum says Ars Electronica’s Deep Space system will allow visitors to experience ultra-high-resolution imagery across walls and floors, potentially transporting audiences to places such as Mars, the deep ocean or inside a living cell.
Six movable LED video walls can be configured in different arrangements, while a three-dimensional d&b Soundscape audio system is designed to create immersive sound environments.
Visitors could, for example, experience the sounds of whales beneath Arctic ice, rainforests populated by orangutans or the skies over New Delhi.
Blackmagic 4K cameras and livestreaming technology will also allow programs to reach audiences outside Boston in real time and on demand.
A major Bloomberg investment in Boston
The Public Science Common is named for William and Charlotte Bloomberg, Michael R. Bloomberg’s parents, who were from Medford, Massachusetts.
Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies and a former three-term mayor of New York City, said his childhood visits to the Museum of Science helped spark his interest in learning and problem-solving.
“As a kid growing up outside of Boston, visiting the Museum of Science sparked a lifelong love of learning and problem-solving,” Bloomberg said.
He said the new space is intended to help give future generations similar opportunities to engage with science.
“The Public Science Common captures the spirit of openness and dialogue that has always fueled progress,” Bloomberg said, adding that it was meaningful to name the venue for his parents.
The $155 million commitment builds on years of Bloomberg Philanthropies support for the Museum.
Previous funding helped establish the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Science Education Center in 2016, renovate the Charles Hayden Planetarium in 2011 and expand education programs, computer science curricula, internships and exhibition spaces.
The Museum is also among 34 Massachusetts cultural organizations featured on Bloomberg Connects, a free arts and culture app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Programming to span science, technology and the arts
The Museum of Science said it will announce the initial programming lineup for the Bloomberg Public Science Common in the coming weeks.
Daily programs will be offered to Museum visitors, while special events will feature prominent scientists, innovators, creators and public figures.
Planned programming will include robotics demonstrations, artificial intelligence and automation, as well as presentations covering genetics, climate science and emerging technologies.
The Museum envisions the space as both a physical gathering place and a global platform, with its production and livestreaming capabilities allowing conversations and experiences developed in Boston to reach audiences around the world.
The new venue also will be available for corporate gatherings and private events.
Part of the Museum’s broader vision
The Bloomberg Public Science Common is part of the Museum of Science’s broader effort to expand access to science both inside and beyond its Boston campus.
The Museum’s 2030 ambition calls for reaching two million visitors onsite, three million learners in schools and one billion people online annually.
With its combination of immersive technology, public programming and flexible event space, the new Public Science Common is intended to help advance that goal while creating a new civic forum for conversations about science and society.
The William and Charlotte Bloomberg Public Science Common opens to the public October 10, 2026.
The Museum will provide updates about programming and ticketed events through its Bloomberg Public Science Common Insider list at mos.org/bpsc-insider.
More information about the Museum of Science is available at Museum of Science, Boston.
