For nearly 50 years, the PG&E Power Station at 400 Jibboom Street has stood empty, an elegant, decaying hulk on the banks of the Sacramento River. Prominently visible from Interstate 5 just north of Downtown, this historic site will be transformed into a premier regional science center. The new riverfront complex includes eight interactive, content-rich exhibit spaces, a new full-dome digital theater, classroom/labs, a new Aerojet Challenger Learning Center, scientific discovery labs/classrooms, green roof, cafe with riverfront views and access from the American River Bike Trail.

The multi-faceted complex is projected to draw approximately 320,000 visitors a year. Dreyfuss & Blackford's design carefully preserves the facade of the original 1912 Willis Polk-designed structure while adding decidedly modern building elements as counterpoints. The project is targeting LEED Platinum certification and includes several cutting edge alternative energy demonstration features.

In April 2011, a grant of $7M was awarded to the Powerhouse Science Center to build the new Earth & Space Science Center building which will house the new full-dome digital theater, the new Aerojet Challenger Learning Center and The Magic Planet interactive exhibit among others.

In December 2011, Aerojet donated $1.5M for the new Aerojet Challenger Learning Center.

www.powerhousesciencecenter.org
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Interior project renderings by West Office Exhibit Design.