{"id":346274,"date":"2026-09-14T12:58:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T12:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/346274\/"},"modified":"2026-09-14T12:58:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T12:58:10","slug":"liberty-science-center-starts-40m-project-supernova-expansion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/346274\/","title":{"rendered":"Liberty Science Center starts $40M Project Supernova expansion"},"content":{"rendered":"

The basics:<\/p>\n

Liberty Science Center<\/a> Project Supernova expansion will overhaul 300,000-square-foot campus
\n$40M project includes river otter habitat, goat-and-kid play area, physics mini golf
\nRiver Rising exhibition will replace existing Our Hudson Home exhibition
\nNJEDA<\/a> CAFE program<\/a> supports transformative cultural project<\/p>\n

Liberty Science Center broke ground Sept. 10 on a $40 million Project Supernova that will\u00a0massively overhaul the interactive science museum and New Jersey staple.\n<\/p>\n

The work is supported by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority\u2019s Cultural Arts Facilities Expansion program<\/a>. It will bring a transformation to LSC\u2019s physical campus and its exhibitions and programs.\n<\/p>\n

For the cultural and educational institution, the indoor and outdoor expansion aims to increase attendance and engagement in key demographics, improve accessibility and sensory inclusion, and \u2013 of course \u2013 showcase cutting-edge science.<\/p>\n

Liberty Science Center President and CEO Paul Hoffman described Project Supernova as a fusion of science, ecology and culture. He said the work will introduce new immersive experiences as well as upgrade existing \u201ciconic\u201d features the center is famous for.
\n\"TheThe Liberty Science Center Project Supernova master plan. \u2013 PROVIDED BY LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThe project celebrates the intersection of science and culture, honoring New Jersey\u2019s famous scientific legacy and natural ecosystems,\u201d added Hoffman, expressing gratitude to the administration and NJEDA. \u201cAnd true to the DNA of Liberty Science Center, the project is bold, forward-looking, and inclusive, and it transforms the Center into an all-weather campus where learning is fun, hands-on, and accessible to all.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Currently 300,000 square feet, LSC hosts more than 280,000 students each year and over 800,000 visitors annually.<\/p>\n

Liberty Science Center expansion
\nWhat\u2019s new
\nKids Corner<\/p>\n

A playground for goats and children. This play structure will feature parallel play areas for kids, both human and goat. A designated ground-level area will house a barn and allow trained staff to facilitate supervised interactions between the two groups.
\n\"A\"AKids Corner \u2013 PROVIDED BY LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER\n<\/p>\n

River Otter Habitat<\/p>\n

River otters were once common throughout the Hudson River estuary but disappeared from its southern urban areas largely as a result of severe water pollution, according to LSC. Thanks to successful efforts to clean up the river, otters have started to return. The new habitat will expand and enhance the story of the Hudson River told in LSC\u2019s existing, but soon-to-be reimagined, River Rising exhibition. Designed as an outdoor experience, the otter building and habitat will work in tandem. The building will be sit along both the pool and dry land areas, offering unique views regardless of weather conditions.
\n\"A\"ARiver Otter exhibit. \u2013 PROVIDED BY LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER\n<\/p>\n

Physics Mini Golf Course<\/p>\n

Brings together artists and scientists on the design and build of a physics-based miniature golf course that will bring New Jersey\u2019s innovation legacy to life. Each hole will demonstrate a core physics principle, making for a hands-on science learning experience unlike any other in the world.
\n\"Mini\"MiniMini golf is coming to Liberty Science Center, with a heavy dose of physics. \u2013 PROVIDED BY LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER\n<\/p>\n

The Weston Family Pollinator Garden<\/p>\n

Named for the longtime LSC supporter, the Center\u2019s eco-friendly green roof will house a carefully plotted garden with native plantings to support local pollinators and other wildlife. This landscape will also provide vegetation to sustain the Center\u2019s resident species, especially such arthropods as the colony of busy leaf-cutter ants. Plantings will align to provide seasonal harvests throughout the year, along with perennial opportunities for science students to experience hands-on horticulture lessons. A garden path will wind through the space, dotted with seating and viewing areas for outdoor visitors.
\n\"Weston\"WestonWeston Family Garden. \u2013 PROVIDED BY LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER\n<\/p>\n

Unique Big Balloon<\/p>\n

Created by Argentinian conceptual artist Leandro Erlich specifically for LSC, this massive 90-foot-high balloon is in the familiar shape of the iconic Montgolfier hot air balloon invention in 1783 \u2013 but with a highly unique twist: It is totally upside down, with the multi-colored balloon resting at the bottom and the payload basket for carrying people and equipment at the top.
\n\"The\"TheThis hot air balloon will stand 90 feet tall in Jersey City. \u2013 PROVIDED BY LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER\n<\/p>\n

9\/11 Memorial Garden<\/p>\n

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey donated two original World Trade Center beams, relocated from the former Skyscraper! Exhibition, in recognition of the Center\u2019s assistance to investigators in the days following the attacks.
\n\"The\"The9\/11 Memorial Garden. \u2013 PROVIDED BY LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER\n<\/p>\n

What\u2019s changing<\/p>\n

The River Rising exhibition will replace the existing Our Hudson Home exhibition. LSC said the \u201cnew gallery will surround visitors in the power of the Hudson River and our own power in shaping it.\u201d In January, the center introduced its new Touch Tank and Climate Time Machine VR experiences<\/a> as part of the reimagination.\n<\/p>\n

LSC will also reconfigure the building layout to better support high-impact and technologically advanced premium exhibitions. The change will move the traveling gallery from the fourth floor to a larger, more flexible and prominent location on the first floor. According to the center, this will help it host experiences, such as the The Van Gogh Expo and The Harry Potter Experience.\n<\/p>\n

Other areas due for upgrades include: Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere<\/a>; the giant \u201cScience on a Sphere\u201d projection globe located in the Weston Family Lab for Earth and Space Exploration; new outdoor spaces; and the expansion of the Wild About Animals habitat, which is home to more than 100 species of animals and one of the Center\u2019s most popular exhibitions.
\n\"Liberty\"LibertyLiberty Science Center will move its special gallery space down from the fourth floor. \u2013 PROVIDED BY LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER\n<\/p>\n

\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

CAFE starts brewing<\/p>\n

The CAFE initiative through NJEDA offers transferable tax credits to incentivize transformative capital projects for arts and cultural venues. The Liberty Science Center Project Supernova expansion marks the latest in a string of awards recently announced under the program.\n<\/p>\n

The NJEDA made CAFE awards in August to support the $130 million renovation project at Asbury Park Convention Hall<\/a> and the Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial in\u00a0Camden<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

The month before<\/a>, the Rialto Theatre in Westfield<\/a> and Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn<\/a> also secured funding under CAFE. Other recipients include the new, permanent home for New Jersey Symphony in Jersey City<\/a> and to support the Montclair Public Library & Cultural Center in Montclair.<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

CAFE awards are determined via a competitive application process and can cover up to 100% of eligible costs. Projects must be at least $5 million; the maximum award is $75 million. The application period is currently closed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The basics: Liberty Science Center Project Supernova expansion will overhaul 300,000-square-foot campus $40M project includes river otter habitat,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":346275,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[129629,129630,44144,100897,2576,9,11,10,32735,6338],"class_list":["post-346274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york","tag-cafe-program","tag-cultural-facilities","tag-early-childhood-education","tag-liberty-science-center","tag-museums","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-headlines","tag-new-york-news","tag-njeda","tag-renovations"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=346274"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346274\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/346275"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=346274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=346274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=346274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}