Science Center of Iowa

[Ingersoll1978]

Check out the Des Moines Register. They've uploaded videos and such to check out the new science center. Kinda like what they did before the opening of Jordan Creek. I've had problems watching it though.

[NewHtsDSM]

My family and I were wandering around the exterior of SCI on Saturday after the Farmer's Market and they invited us in to the first showing at the IMAX.

The IMAX Dome is excellent. Similar to the CR one, but seats more people.

The SCI is amazing, very colorful with wide-open 6-story open air entrance. Very impressive. We were not allowed into the exhibits areas, but from what I could see, very impressive. They have a lot to do to finish it, but the employees I talked to all said everything will be ready on opening day.

This place will be an incredible asset to DM and Iowa. Major attraction on the scale you see in places like Mpls & Chicago.

[Brady]

thats cool NewHeights -- were they having like a tour day or something?

I have not seen the new SCI in person yet - but from the pictures it looks pretty cool on the outside. Honestly the front entrance doesn't quite portray a science museum to me -- but the backside w/ the reflecting/colored-light/mirrored IMAX theater will be awesome. It sounds like this museum is going to be really great -- perhaps Iowa will finally have one of those museums that is actually worth going to and can actually occupy you for more than an hour or so

good job SCI!

[DMRyan]

Well, the SCI is finally getting the press it deserves with a front page article and a special insert in the Register. The DSM Biz Record had the project for its lead story as well. I guess we can all see it for ourselves next weekend.

Here's a few construction update photos, showing the new signage. The north entryway looks great with the Science Center of Iowa letters glowing at night. You can make out the letter all the way from Court Avenue.





south signage

[Brady]

are they going to put up a view barrier around the mechanical stuff? It looks kinda bad all exposed right at the intersection.

[DMRyan]

I would think they would put up some kind of screen. You can see the metal framework that is already built up around the mechanical system.

[Brady]

yeah i see that. That low level section of the building just looks kind of "back alley" to me -- somewhat out of place --- the rest of the back side looks great and attractive from the parkway --- hopefully the can shield the low level area w/ some trees or something...

[DMRyan]

From what I've heard, the landscaping SCI will eventually get will screen most of the south side (facing the parkway). They wanted to have more of a garden feel on the southside since the main entrance is on the north side.

What you see is defintely the "business-end" of the science center, but it's oddly the side that is the most visible for passer's-by.

[Brady]

that sounds neat and puts my worries aside.

[dmluvr]

I can confirm Newhts post for sure. My buddy and I were down saturday afternoon at the hessan hause for a littel afternoon sippy sip, we too got to tour the inside a bit of the SCI---we didn't get to see the imax though---but it was hot for sure. NO question this will be of a highest caliber musem, (sorry for the mis spelling) and I really hope they market this thing outside of the dm market.

[DMRyan]

That's a good idea. There's no reason a new museum of this quality shouldn't be marketed at least regionally.

This will add a nice reason to make an occasional weekend trip to DSM from places around the midwest.

[NewHtsDSM]

thats cool NewHeights -- were they having like a tour day or something?

Actually Brady, we were just milling around the front door trying to get a look in. Then one of the employees stepped out and told us they still had seats available for the 11 am preview showing. (it was invitation only) We wasted no time in accepting the invite. The preview was sponsored by Channel 13.

To agree with some of the other posts here, this is no question a regional attraction. Certainly Iowa, but also Midwest, too. This would give another attraction for Omahans who come to Adventureland to make a weekend of it. They seem to be okay with the idea of going to a smaller city for attractions. I see a lot of Nebr plates in the Adventureland parking lot, anyway.

Selling people in KC and Mpls to come to DM for attractions, I don't know if we've had any success there.

[Young DSM Social Club]

Sounds like a hotel near Court Avenue should be a no brainer now that this is opening ... let's start collecting funds!

[dmluvr]

Selling people in KC and Mpls to come to DM for attractions, I don't know if we've had any success there.

You'd be surprised!
I've meet plenty of people from going to concerts at Simon Estes during the summer and at the arts festival who've come to dm from mineapolis and kc and even Chicago.

We have to remember that people living in kc and mineapolis need to get away for a weekend as well. There is no reason during the summer dm can't be a great weekend getaway. With the hot shows down on the river, to the several festivals that we have, and now with SCI coming online and shopping with JCTC---AND EAST VILLAGE! throw together some really good marketing campaigns and they'll come.

[DMRyan]

Speaking of marketing campaigns, I see the Des Moines Convention and Visitor's Bureau updated their website: http://www.seedesmoines.com

[dmluvr]

It looks pretty darn good actually. good layout, colors and pictures.
Check it out everyone---thoughts??

[Ingersoll1978]

I checked out the new website last night. It looks much better. I'm especially happy that they finally got rid of the red, white, and blue post-9/11 logo. Spindustry is really making over a lot of websites in the DM area. They are doing a great job!

[DMRyan]

Anyone else make it out there to SCI this weekend and have a review for us? It sure got a ton of press over the last few days and I haven't heard a bad thing about the place yet.

[iadm]

Saws lots of things to like:

1. use of colors is nice and flows throughout the complex. The purple & red signage is great.

2. many of the exhibits were interesting and worth a second visit

3. planetarium aka star theater is top-notch with goosd shows and narration; just watch out that someone doesn't step on your face as you are lying down to view the show

4. tot area could use some more stuff with more hands-on things that let them do their own play instead of parents instructing.

I am worried about the floors in this place. There were way too many cracks and gouges all over and the floor color/sealant looked sub-par, showing every track in the house.

That said, I will be doing back for more- the imax was great, the food area looked inviting and the gift shop looked like it had goodies in it.

[Brady]

Anyone have any nice pictures of the interior?

[dmluvr]

HOLY BATMAN! The new SCI is top notch. Putting my pro dm and pro urban bias aside, this facility is true first class.

newhts is right on the money with the colors, flows very well together.
The lighting!!!! It's fantasic!!

I had a nice chat with the VP of comunications adn they already are running commercials in both kc and omaha.
(i wonder if any our omaha cohoerts have noticed these campaigns)
NO question this new facility can be a regional attraction. YOu could easily spend a full day there, and there is still one platform yet to open.

Addtionally that I noticed, on the 2nd floor you can go out side to this 'patio' it's on the east side of the complex, it's wonderful to step out and check everything out.

Also, i was told that the remaining exterior work--a la the lighted pond will be done by late summer.

This is something for dm to be very proud of. Feedback has been great, my rural/suburban family and friends were very impressed and have made comments on how great downtown is really shaping up.
Perhaps it is possible to draw our rural and suburban friends and family back to downtown, regardless, this was a fantasic facility.

A couple notes here;
**Who are we? exhibit. Part lame, part cool, it does do a good job of highlighting iowans, and there are videos and such there where people living in DC were interviewed to give their perceptions on iowans.
That is really really interesting. You should check it out. They talked to men and woman, kids, and teenagers. Interesting. (also shows we have a lot of national work to do) the greatest thing about this platform though is that it really brings awarness and a sense of education to our state.

**the time lapse video. Waaaay cool here, there's a flat screen tv and you can control the speed of teh time lapse of the building of the science center. That's very cool as well.

**the food chain cafe--probably not soo much, there's a pizza hut and what appears to be a deli, much better than what the old sci center had, but i'm not sure about the name: 'food chain cafe" is it suppose to be tounge and cheek? The seating area is nice though.

Over all, just a beautiful project. Super tall ceilings, great lighting, great colors, good open and flowing energy thruogh out the whole center.

and lastly, this is way cool, when you go up the 2nd floor there's this huge sklyine picture of downtown dm(aerial view) with it linking up to space and such. It's also an updated picture of downtown(it looks like it was taken recently). I would have to say it's the best picture of downtown I've ever seen and most recent.

I give this big dog 4 stars.

DM scored very well with this project.

[dmluvr]

Also, hey ryan and ingersoll,
i got the vp of communication business card, I talked to her about this website and the opportunity for somebody rep. this forum to take interior pictures. I really really would recomend interior pics.

[Ingersoll1978]

Why didn't you take them luvr??? LOL I was going to go last weekend...but I thought it was going to be insane in there. I'm excited to see it though. The outside really lit up that end of 4th Street at night. It's really a great looking building.

[dmluvr]

sorry!! I had my son with me, so my focus wasn't taking pictures!!!

[NOG]

Well I made it to the Science Center yesterday. I am very impressed with the building. Also I really enjoyed the IMAX, my first experience in one. I also thought the Star Theater was very cool. Although I was very dissapointed by the numerous exhibits that were "out of order" and broken. Sorry I didn't get pics either, I went straight from the I-Cubs game and did not have my camera.

[mistertwister]

I took the family to the new science center yesterday too. We didn't take in the Imax (my kids are 4 and 2) but we did spend some time in the planetarium which is worth the trip alone. I loved the spaces they designed and I am really excited for the future of the Science Center of Iowa. I think it is a real FIRST CLASS building and on par with many of the Children's and Science Centers that I have attended across this country.

On a side note, my wife who never goes downtown, even though she's more urban than I, was absolutely floored by all the construction and changes going on. When I started ticking off all the new projects and a what's happening she was amazed. I made the comment to her, that if it weren't for the kids, I'd want to live downtown and she was all over it. So maybe in 15 years, Des Moines will gain back two more from the upper income brackets.

[DMRyan]

I wonder when they plan on putting the glass canopy up around the IMAX theater. It still looks like workers are busy making the final building preparations and doing landscaping work on the south and east plaza sides of the building. It's defintely brought a lot of traffic to the area though. Today there all kinds of people milling around 4th Street up to Court Avenue, and there tons of school aged kids touring SCI today.

Once the holes are filled around 4th and Court, this should be a nice stretch of activity in downtown.

[iadm]

The IMAX end of the bldg. won't be finished until late summer; the water feature needs to be installed as well as landscaping.

But once that gets done, imagine a weekend night at the IMAX and a drink (or two) outside afterwards, listening to the water.

[DMRyan]

Good news from the Science Center. In less than two months after initially opening, they've already gotten 1/3 of their projected yearly attendance.

From the DSM Business Record:

Today the Science Center of Iowa announced that attendance has reached 100,000 since its grand opening six weeks ago, putting it on pace to exceed its original attendance projection of 300,000 during in its first full year of operation. The Science Center is trying to encourage multiple visits by changing its programs and activities frequently and introducing new events.

[dmluvr]

that's great!!! I just wish there was more media than just a little blurb!