California Science Center Completes New Building for Endeavour Shuttle, Enhancing Educational Experience
The California Science Center has completed construction on the Samuel Oschin Air & Space Center, a new 20-story, 200,000-square-foot building in Exposition Park, Los Angeles. This expansion nearly doubles the museum's exhibit space and is part of a $450-million campaign to permanently house the retired space shuttle Endeavour. The new center is divided into three galleries—air, space, and shuttle—featuring aerospace artifacts and interactive exhibits. The Endeavour shuttle is displayed in a vertical 'ready-to-launch' configuration, a unique setup outside of NASA or Air Force facilities. The building's design, by ZGF Architects, includes a diagrid structure that provides unobstructed views of the shuttle. The center aims to inspire children and the community by showcasing scientific principles and the history of aviation and space exploration.