The Museum of Science, Boston to Open State-of-the-Art William and Charlotte Bloomberg Public Science Common on October 10, 2026

New convening space with cutting-edge technology will expand access to science, connecting the public with leading scientists, creators, and artists

Public Science Common supported by a historic $155 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Museum of Science, Boston today announced that construction on its new 10,000-square foot civic venue is nearing completion. The William and Charlotte Bloomberg Public Science Common will open to the public on October 10, 2026, followed by a celebratory event on October 28.

Designed to inspire lifelong engagement with science by sparking discourse and discovery through immersive experiences around urgent topics including artificial intelligence, climate change, public health, and space exploration, the Bloomberg Public Science Common will connect trusted scientific voices with local and global audiences. It will host conversations with leading scientists and communicators, conferences, and symposia.

Floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the Charles River with 270-degree views of the Boston Skyline complements state-of-the-art immersive media, production, and livestreaming technology that enables every event to reach audiences well beyond Boston. The venue will also be available for corporate gatherings and private events.

“We believe the future of science is participatory,” said Tim Ritchie, Gwill York President, Museum of Science. “Science should belong to everyone. The William and Charlotte Bloomberg Public Science Common will be the world’s stage for science: a place where scientists, creators, artists, and the public will create experiences that inspire everyone with hope for a better future. Our mission is to inspire a lifelong love of science in everyone.”

The Public Science Common is named for William and Charlotte Bloomberg, from Medford, MA, who instilled a love of learning and discovery in their children, Michael R. Bloomberg and Marjorie Tiven.

“As a kid growing up outside of Boston, visiting the Museum of Science sparked a lifelong love of learning and problem-solving,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies and three-term mayor of New York City. “The Public Science Common will help ensure more young people get that experience, and it marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Museum. Technology is bringing so many promising frontiers within reach, with so much potential to improve lives and deepen our understanding of the universe. The Public Science Common captures the spirit of openness and dialogue that has always fueled progress – and it means a lot to have it named for the most important teachers my sister Marjorie and I had: our parents, William and Charlotte.”

A $155 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies for the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Public Science Common is the largest in the Museum’s history. Previous Bloomberg Philanthropies funding to the Museum established the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Science Education Center in 2016, supported the 2011 renovation of the Museum’s Charles Hayden Planetarium, strengthened education programs, and developed a computer science curriculum, internships, and exhibition spaces. The Museum of Science is also one of 34 Massachusetts-based cultural organizations on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Giving to Massachusetts-based organizations and institutions -- and giving back to the area in and around his hometown of Medford -- has been a top priority for Mike Bloomberg. To support student success, Bloomberg Philanthropies made the largest philanthropic investment in the history of the Boston Public Schools to expand the healthcare high school Edward M. Kennedy School, and also strengthened the building trades career pathways at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School. It has funded arts administration summer internships for nearly 300 high school students and expanded the Pupils Project in Boston to provide more vision screenings and prescription eyeglasses for school children. To honor his parents in Medford, Bloomberg has given to Temple Shalom and the construction of the new public library. Some of the many recipients of Bloomberg Philanthropies longtime support for Boston-area cultural and civic institutions include the Old North Foundation, Institute of Contemporary Art, Museum of Fine Arts, New England Aquarium, USS Constitution Museum, the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, the Boston Pops July 4^th Fireworks Spectacular, the "Mother's Walk" at Boston's Rose F. Kennedy Greenway, and the Greater Boston Food Bank. The Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University helps city leaders improve the lives of their residents and has provided executive training to nearly 450 mayors globally. Bloomberg Philanthropies has partnered closely with the City of Boston on some of Mayor Wu’s priorities including incorporating data analytics and AI into government functions, improving health and road safety, empowering youth-led solutions for local climate challenges, and more.

THE SPACE

Designed by William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc.—architects of Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, the Cambridge Public Library, and the transformation of the Boston Public Library's Central Library—and built by Consigli Construction Co., Inc., the Bloomberg Public Science Common is a highly adaptable venue that shifts seamlessly in scale, atmosphere, and function.

Within its 10,000-square-foot footprint, movable walls and retractable seating allow the room to transform from an intimate morning roundtable for a dozen scientists, to daytime programs for schools and to evening public events with a full performance stage.

At the heart of the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Public Science Common is a world-class immersive media environment that makes science a shared, sensory experience. Monumental display technologies, spatial audio, and real-time data visualization come together in a platform where science, technology, and art converge to spark curiosity, wonder, and participation.

Ars Electronica's Deep Space system projects ultra-high-resolution imagery across the floor and walls, transforming the room into interactive journeys across the surface of Mars, the deep ocean, or inside a living cell.

Six movable LED video walls can be repositioned around the room in virtually any configuration, presenting everything from cinematic storytelling to real-time astronomy and space mission data at monumental scale.

The d&b Soundscape spatial audio system creates a natural, three-dimensional listening environment, transporting visitors to remote ecosystems—from swimming alongside whales beneath Arctic ice, standing in vibrant rainforests with orangutans, or experiencing the sounds of the skies over New Delhi.

Blackmagic 4K cameras and livestreaming technology extend these experiences to audiences around the world in real time and on demand.

PROGRAMMING

The Museum of Science will announce its initial programming for the Bloomberg Public Science Common in the coming weeks. There will be daily programs for museum visitors as well as special programs featuring luminary scientists, innovators, creators, and public figures. Robotics demonstrations will showcase the latest advances in automation and artificial intelligence, while presentations on genetics, climate science, and emerging technologies bring cutting-edge research to life in ways that are both scientifically rigorous and visually spectacular.

To be among the first to hear about upcoming programs and to access ticketed events, join the Bloomberg Public Science Common Insider list at mos.org/bpsc-insider.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE, BOSTON

The Museum of Science is one of the world’s leading science centers, with a mission to inspire a lifelong love of science in everyone. The Museum’s 2030 ambition: two million visitors onsite, three million learners in schools, one billion people online annually.

Learn more at mos.org/bloomberg-public-science-common.

FOR MEDIA

Additional assets can be found in the press kit here. There will be select opportunities for tours and interviews.

More information on the October 28 celebration program, speakers, and attendees will be shared soon.

Media Contact: Elizabeth Gordon, Communications, Museum of Science: [e-mail]