Just across the Hudson, one of the region’s best science hubs is getting a massive upgrade. Yesterday, Liberty Science Center (LSC) in Jersey City officially broke ground on a transformative $40 million expansion known as ‘Project Supernova‘.
The groundbreaking event, supported by the NJEDA and generous donors, also provided a first look at an incredibly moving tribute that is especially poignant today.
A touching 9/11 tribute
Unveiled just one day before the 25th anniversary of September 11, the center’s new 9/11 Memorial Garden is officially underway. The serene space features two original World Trade Center beams, relocated from LSC’s former Skyscraper! exhibition and donated by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Bizarre scale and physics fun
If you thought the massive interactive museum couldn’t get any cooler, they are completely reimagining their spaces to blend art, animals, and science.
- Big Balloon: Prepare for some serious scale. Designed by internationally-renowned Argentinian artist Leandro Erlich, this 90-foot-high hot air balloon will be installed completely upside down, with the basket resting at the very top.
- Kids Corner: A highly unique play zone where kids and goats will have parallel playgrounds and supervised interactions.
- Physics Mini Golf: Forget standard windmills. This 18-hole miniature golf course is heavily inspired by the state’s legacy of physics contributions. Each hole requires you to navigate a different core scientific concept to sink your putt.
Next-level nature and astronomy
For those who lean more toward wildlife and deep space, LSC is giving their classic exhibits a major overhaul.
- River Otter Habitat: A dedicated indoor and outdoor facility just for North American River Otters, featuring back-of-house space for exceptional animal care.
- River Rising: A fully immersive, 6,600-square-foot interactive gallery focused on the real-world impacts of climate change on local marine life, marking a total reimagining of the flagship “Our Hudson Home” space.
- Weston Family Pollinator Garden: An eco-friendly green roof packed with native plantings. It will support local wildlife and provide a direct food source for the center’s famous colony of busy leaf-cutter ants.
- Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium: As the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, this massive dome is getting a total tech upgrade for enhanced deep-space programming, live concerts, and celestial watch parties.