The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is planning a major change to its Dallas campus, with four acres of outdoor exhibits, hands-on experiments and green space set to expand how visitors experience science.
The campus overhaul includes an outdoor science experience designed around the forces that shape the natural world, along with a redesigned entrance and lobby, expanded educational and dining spaces, event areas, an on-site parking garage and infrastructure upgrades. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027, with the expanded campus scheduled to open in late 2028.
The project is part of the museum’s $185 million Curiosity Unbound capital campaign, which has raised $135 million so far. The expansion will double the museum’s exhibition space and is expected to draw an additional 400,000 guests annually.
A Science Museum Without Walls
The outdoor expansion will cover approximately 60,000 square feet, arranged into connected zones with about 25 large-scale exhibits and 40 learning touchpoints. Visitors will experiment with the elements and observe scientific principles at a scale that would be difficult to recreate inside the museum.
Planned experiences include a cloud maze, a pavilion devoted to lightning and thunder, a giant water vortex and a fire tornado that spirals more than a story high. Guests will also be able to feel powerful wind gusts, build water pressure to launch a geyser and explore how moving water reshapes the landscape.
Photo: Perot Museum of Nature and Science
“This project represents an opportunity to rethink how and where people experience science,” said Mike Spiewak, vice president of exhibitions at the Perot Museum. “By moving beyond the physical limits of the building, our goal is to create an environment where discovery feels unexpected and alive, inspiring curiosity and opening new ways for people to connect with the awesome power of nature.”
The surrounding landscape will also serve as an exhibit. Native plants, shade trees, pollinator habitats and water features will demonstrate ecological systems. The museum is already monitoring local temperatures and air quality to establish a baseline for measuring the project’s environmental effects.
More Room For Science Education
Since opening in 2012, the Perot Museum has welcomed more than 14 million visitors and now serves more than 1 million people each year, including nearly 230,000 schoolchildren. The additional space is intended to accommodate growing interest while giving more students, families and educators opportunities to explore science.
The expansion comes as Texas STEM jobs grow at twice the national rate, according to the museum’s announcement. Museum leaders say broader access to hands-on science experiences can help young people build scientific literacy and consider future careers in STEM fields.
Photo: Perot Museum of Nature and Science
“Our family’s vision for the museum has always been for it to serve as both a critical part of Dallas’ civic fabric and a bridge between science education and workforce opportunities shaping our region,” said Suzanne Perot McGee, co-chair of the Curiosity Unbound campaign. “As demand for STEM talent continues to grow, this expansion will allow us to equip and empower more innovators, problem-solvers and leaders, which North Texas needs.”
The project also includes changes intended to improve the museum’s connection to the surrounding downtown area. New green space and a redesigned entrance will help link the campus with Klyde Warren Park, Victory Park, the Dallas Arts District and the broader downtown corridor.
$135 Million Raised Toward The Campaign
The Curiosity Unbound campaign will fund the campus transformation along with the museum’s endowment, educational programs and community engagement efforts. Its $135 million fundraising total puts the campaign more than 73% of the way toward its $185 million goal.
“Reaching $135 million is an extraordinary milestone and a powerful vote of confidence in this vision, but there is still important work ahead,” said Nancy Best, chair of the Perot Museum Board of Trustees and co-chair of the campaign. “We are deeply grateful to the early supporters of this transformative initiative, but we also know that completing this catalytic investment in the future of North Texas will require additional philanthropic resources. We invite our community to join us in this visionary project that will become a change-making resource for generations of families to come.”
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