ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For decades, the science center in St. Pete served as a staple for educating students in the Tampa Bay area.  

What You Need To Know

After years of debates and advocacy from local residents, on Friday shovels went in the ground for the reimagined Science Center

Sen. Darryl Rouson and other lawmakers rallied to raise awareness and money to make the $22 million project happen

A groundbreaking was held Friday

When it closed years ago, there was debate about what to do with the iconic building and property. After years of debates and advocacy from local residents, on Friday shovels went in the ground for the reimagined Science Center.

Joe Hamilton is the founder of the reimagined Science Center. He showed a rendering of the big plans to renovate and rebuild the center, keeping the iconic round building on the property and the impactful education they’re known for.

“We hope to get real construction started around April, and we think it will take about 12 to 14, 15 months to complete the building,” Hamilton said. “So, summer camps 2027 may be a little ambitious, but that’s our goal and hopefully by school year 2027.”

“We’re focusing on emerging technology basically because we think it’s the most important need and the most important gap we have in education,” he said.

Jamie Hoke used to take her now-grown kids to the science center. So, a couple of years ago, when her son wanted to help advocate to revitalize the center, she stepped up, focusing on its past and promise for the future.

“This science center has done so much to take children, their dreams and making them come even bigger and better. So, I’m super excited to see what it will do for the next generation, including my grandson, who’s coming in March,” she said.

That’s why Sen. Darryl Rouson says he got on board to make this project happen from the very beginning.

“I’m excited. I’m excited that it’s finally going to happen. It took seven years, five years, for us to get to this point,” he said.

Rouson and other lawmakers rallied to raise awareness and money to make the $22 million project happen.

They’re still short $10 million, but Hamilton said with the rich memories made there and the reimagined changes to come, they’re confident they’ll meet their goal through their capital campaign.