Transforming Boston’s Scientific Community: The Launch of the Public Science Common

The Museum of Science in Boston has announced plans for a major renovation that will see the existing Cahners Theater transformed into a new venue called the “Public Science Common.” This 10,000-square-foot space overlooking the Charles River is expected to serve as a state-of-the-art convening space connecting the public to Boston’s scientific community.

Work on this project is set to begin this year and is scheduled for completion in 2026, with funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies. The new Public Science Common space will be a multimedia venue capable of accommodating up to 700 people and will offer multiple programming options in a single space. It will also serve as a hub for the museum’s Center for Life Sciences, Center for the Environment, and Center for Space Sciences initiatives.

The goal is to create a space that serves as a “common ground” for science and technology enthusiasts, where people can come together to discuss ideas, questions, and solutions. Architect William Rawn Associates has been tapped to lead the redesign of the space. They have previously worked on projects such as the Boston Public Library’s central branch and Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood.

Museum of Science President Tim Ritchie believes that the Public Science Common will provide a space where industry, academia, government, and the public can collaborate and innovate together. The project will also help the museum in working towards its goal of carbon neutrality by 2035. Neal J. Riley, a digital producer for CBS Boston who has been with WBZ-TV since 2014, has been tapped to lead coverage of this exciting project in publications like The Boston Globe and The San Francisco Chronicle. He is also a graduate of Boston University.