The Maryland Science Center is launching a major renovation to celebrate its 50th anniversary. A groundbreaking ceremony for the harbor-facing entrance plaza is scheduled for June 13 at 10 a.m., with Gov. Wes Moore as one of the speakers.

Renovation Details

The renovation will transform the mostly brick main entrance into a landscaped green space with a sloping lawn, native plants, educational markers, and a shade canopy. Mahan Rykiel Associates is the lead designer for the plaza renovation, which is expected to cost $1 million to $1.5 million.

The plaza renovation is the final phase of a large package of improvements that Science Center leaders set out to complete in conjunction with its 50th anniversary. In October 2024, they announced a $10 million fund drive called “Transforming Our Future: 50th Anniversary Campaign” for capital improvements and programs designed to improve the visitor experience and commemorate the anniversary. As of May 2026, they have raised $15.2 million – 50 percent more than the original goal.

Completed Projects

Capital improvement projects already complete at the Science Center include a new hands-on exhibit on space exploration, a DIY area with 36 workstations, a relocated and expanded Demonstration Stage, an expansion of the Kids Room, and a renovated Dinosaur exhibit. Programs designed to enhance access to the Science Center include Access Science, Science Beyond the Classroom, and MSC Across Maryland.

Funds have also been used to renovate restrooms, upgrade the Science Center’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems, and make the building more energy efficient. The groundbreaking ceremony will kick off a day-long celebration of the Science Center’s 50th anniversary on June 13. Actual work is expected to start in the fall so the property won’t be a construction zone during the summer tourist season.

Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.