Unlock Science Campaign

Unlock Science Campaign

Our Past


In 1955, Orlando Science Center started its life as the Central Florida Museum, and looked much different from the institution it is today. Over the last 63 years, the Science Center has grown from a “museum on the move” that toured content to schools and other learning sites to the premier informal learning institution we are today.

 

Our Present


Recognizing not only the need to revitalize our physical exhibits, our leadership also recognized the growing importance and place that the Science Center occupied in the educational landscape of Central Florida. In order to both address our needed physical updates and the need for high-quality informal education, OSC began the Unlock Science Campaign. To date, our comprehensive campaign has made many critical improvements at the Science Center a possibility: 

  • In 2015, OSC finished renovating the lobby and science store, while also reclaiming space for our new KidsTown exhibit by performing an in-fill on the second floor.
  • In 2016, construction for new KidsTown completed in October, which helped increase attendance by 10% from the prior year with a 5-year attendance growth of 66%.
  • In 2017, construction started on the STEM Discovery Center, which entailed renovating our 7 learning labs within the Education department. By the end of the year, 4 of the learning labs were being regularly used for programming, classes, and winter break camps.
  • In 2018, we finished the learning lab renovations, while also debuting the new Flight Lab, made possible by a generous grant from the Office of Naval Research. The first half of 2018 also saw the completion of our new making and tinkering exhibit, The Hive: A Makerspace.

With the completion of so many exciting projects associated with the campaign, the end of FY18 brought us to another record-breaking year for attendance with over 670,000 visitors reached by OSC.

Additionally, based on these accomplishments the Science Center has been honored as an Institute of Museum and Library Services National Medal finalist for two consecutive years. This honor is only bestowed upon 15 museums each year, and represents the highest award for a museum or library in the nation.

 

Our Future


With the successful completion of Phase I and II of the Unlock Science Campaign, and as we look to the future, we will continue to innovate content and reclaim space with the focus on Nature and Environment, Health and Wellness, and by updating the CineDome to provide an immersive Fulldome Digital experience.

In Phase III, the current phase of the campaign, OSC is keeping an eye on the future from an organizational standpoint and from a conservation perspective by fundraising for Life, Phase III, in new nature and environment exhibit hall. In this space we will continue to inspire science learning for life by:

  • Connecting visitors to real-world environmental problems that impact their daily lives.
  • Empowering learners of all ages to see how they can impact the world through conservation efforts both big and small.
  • Facilitate stronger connections between our community and the natural world by offering hands-on environmental education opportunities to our visitors.

A. Friends' Foundation

AdventHealth for Children 

Amy and Chris Chapman 

Anonymous Donors 

BDO USA, LLP 

Bert W. Martin Foundation 

Betsy and Shelton Granade 

Brandan Lanman 

Capt. Steve Nakagawa 

Carmen Burkhammer and Scott Wilson 

Caryn and Robert Winter 

Catriona and Mike Harris 

Chesley G. Magruder Foundation, Inc. 

Cindy and Bruce Anderson 

City of Orlando 

David and Bridgette Baten 

David Christensen 

Demetria and Jeffrey Sloan 

Dennis Nolte 

Kingsley and Devin Elmore 

Digital Assurance Certification, LLC 

DiPasqua Enterprises Inc. 

Dottie and Bill Silverman 

Dr. Phillips Charities 

Dr. Sarah Layton 

Duke Energy Foundation 

Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation 

Embrace Families 

Esther McKean 

Event Network 

Faith and Jeff Buhler 

FINFROCK 

Florida Blue Foundation 

Florida Division of Arts and Culture 

Gary and Brandee Heath 

Harriett Lake Family Trust 

Heather and Samual Miller 

Helaine and Richard Signer 

James M. Cox Foundation 

JoAnn and Rich Newman 

Karen and Darrell Lane 

Karen and Dennis Lind

Linda Avery and Janet Edwards in honor of Marian and Bill Lacy

Linda Cadogan and Chuck Beverly 

Lindsay Winter 

Lisa and Michel Champagne 

Lorraine and Jerry Sullivan 

Marc and Jennifer Swanson 

Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies 

Marilyn Moran and Michael Weaver 

Massey Services, Inc. 

Matthew Levine 

Mila Smith 

Monica and John Rivers 

Office Of Naval Research 

Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs 

Orange County Government 

Orlando Health 

Orlando Utilities Commission 

Paula Stuart 

PNC Bank 

Publix Super Markets Charities 

Rita and Tim Flaherty 

Seay Business Solutions, LLC 

Shannon and Min Cho 

Sharon and Marc Hagle 

Sheila and Patrick Aland 

Simoli and Nirav Pandya 

State of Florida 

Stewart and Kelly Clark 

Sue and James Cross 

Suneera and Faizal Madhani 

Suzanne Worthington and Scott Grabowski 

The Art and Phyllis Grindle Foundation 

The Hearst Foundation 

The Isaacs Family 

The Joe & Sarah Galloway Foundation 

The Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation 

Tupperware Brands Corporation 

Virginia and Robert Finfrock 

W.T. Bland Jr. Charitable Trust 

Walt Disney Company Foundation

William H. and Mattie Wattis Harris Foundation

William J. Slot, Jr. 

Ying Family Foundation