Science City gains international recognition
Investments in Science City at Union Station in recent years have paid off with international recognition for the visitor experience it offers.
The Association of Science-Technology Centers, which has more than 600 members in nearly 50 countries, awarded the Kansas City science center its Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Award for Visitor Experience in 2015.
Science City, which opened in 1999 with the restoration of Union Station, has transformed and updated more than half its more than 80,000 square feet in recent years and is poised to expand into a new outdoor plaza area in a project that is scheduled to begin construction this fall.
The center focuses on science, technology, engineering, arts and math education, also known as STEAM education.
“It drives not only the focus of Kansas City’s Science Center, it is translating into a larger and larger share of our local economy,” Bob Regnier, chairman of the board of Union Station, said in announcing the award. “A vibrant Science City delivers tremendous value to our entire community.”
Greg Graves, chairman and chief executive officer of Burns & McDonnell, also serves on the station board. Gifts from the Burns & McDonnell Foundation and in-kind services from the company have amounted to more than $5 million in improvements to Science City, including the creation of new exhibits based on winning entries from the Battle of the Brains competition among area schools.
The foundation will invest more than $1 million in additional money for a third Battle of the Brains competition this year. The winning concept this time will be built in the new plaza area.
Science City has seen double-digit percentage increases in attendance in each of the last three years.
“Our visitor experience is now recognized as one of the best in the world,” said Union Station President George Guastello. “This award and recognition puts Kansas City’s Science Center on the world stage and among the most celebrated institutions in the world.”
The Leading Edge Award, also known as an “Edgie,” is named for Shafer, the former president of the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio, and of the Association of Science-Technology Centers. Past recipients of the award have included the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and Scitech in Perth, Australia.
Jerry Baber, Union Station chief of operations, said the award is a validation of the path that has been set for Science City, “and we have much more in store to further evolve Science City as an institutional leader.”
This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 1:20 PM with the headline "Science City gains international recognition."