Detroit Science Center Breaks Ground on New Addition

80,000 Square-foot Addition will House University Prep Science & Math Middle
School, New Museum Lobby, Cafe, Gift Shop and Group Welcome Center

DETROIT, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Detroit Science Center, in
collaboration with The Thompson Educational Foundation (TEF) broke ground
today on an 80,000 square-foot addition to the museum. The addition will house
University Prep Science & Math Middle School, a public charter school that
will serve 486 students, as well as a new museum lobby, cafe, gift shop and
group welcome center.
The partnership between the Detroit Science Center and University Prep
Science & Math (UPSM) will provide a unique opportunity for students and
teachers to combine classroom learning with hands-on exhibits, dynamic theater
shows and in-depth museum programs on a daily basis. UPSM plans to open a high
school at another location in 2010.
The TEF is funding the $15 million middle school construction project and
will lease the building to UPSM for $1 per year under an agreement that
requires the charter school system to graduate no fewer than 90 percent of its
students and send no fewer than 90 percent on to college.
"Our goal at the Detroit Science Center is to inspire children to get
excited about engineering, technology and science and to encourage them to
pursue careers in those fields. It's a natural step in the evolution of the
Detroit Science Center to be affiliated with a school where we can not only
inspire these children on a daily basis, but see them apply that inspiration
back in the classroom," said Kevin F. Prihod, President & CEO of the Detroit
Science Center.
"We look forward to collaborating with the school's teachers and
administration to create innovative learning opportunities for its students
utilizing our hands-on exhibits, programs and theater shows," said Prihod.
Margaret Trimer-Hartley, superintendent of UPSM, said the partnership is
giving families in Detroit and across the metropolitan area a one-of-a-kind
opportunity to prepare youth for the science, technology, engineering and math
(STEM) careers of the knowledge economy.
"UPSM's mission is to prepare students to pursue STEM careers at highly
selective colleges and universities," Trimer-Hartley said. "Our rigorous and
exciting program has already proven to be a regional magnet, drawing a diverse
group of families from the city as well as the surrounding suburbs."
Construction on the new addition is starting this month with a spring 2009
opening. It will be located on the north side of the Science Center building
in an area formerly utilized for parking. The architect is Gunn Levine. The
general contractor is DeMaria. Both companies are based in Detroit.
The Detroit Science Center is a hands-on museum that inspires its visitors
to pursue and support careers in engineering, technology and science. The
Science Center features Michigan's only Chrysler IMAX(R) Dome Theatre; the
Dassault Systemes Planetarium; the DTE Energy Sparks Theater; the Chrysler
Science Stage; an 8,700 square-foot Science Hall for traveling exhibits;
hands-on exhibit galleries focusing on space, life and physical science; the
United States Steel Fun Factory; a children's gallery for pint-size
scientists; and a Special Events Lobby. The Science Center has served more
than 2.1 million visitors since its grand re-opening on July 28, 2001. It is
one of the 10 largest science museums in the country. For more information,
please call 313.577.8400 or visit the website,
http://www.detroitsciencecenter.org.
UPSM is a public charter school affiliated with the highly successful
University Prep Academy (UPA) system of schools. University Prep schools are
small and focused on providing rigor, relevance and strong relationships
through personalized learning, small classes and community partnerships.
SOURCE The New Detroit Science Center

Media: Kelly Fulford, Director of PR & Marketing, +1-313-577-8400 x430,
+1-248-496-1170(cell), kfulford@sciencedetroit.org