Omaha RiverFront Science Center Announces Name

OMAHA, Nebraska (November 16, 2020) – Today Omaha Discovery Trust announced that construction is officially underway for the $101 million privately funded science center being built on Omaha’s Lewis and Clark Landing. The newly named Kiewit Luminarium: a place for discovery will excite learners of all ages with fun, open-ended explorations of natural phenomena focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Kiewit Luminarium is anticipated to be one of the crowning jewels along Omaha’s RiverFront, offering sweeping views of the Missouri River and downtown Omaha. The building and surrounding redevelopment, designed by HDR, will reanimate a historic area of the city; draw local residents, regional visitors and community partners to a dynamic, family-friendly destination; and help position Omaha as a must-see city.

“We hope that Kiewit Luminarium opens the door to STEM learning for those who may not think science or engineering is for them. Ensuring a diverse and inclusive workforce is one of the best investments we can make in the future of our region,” said Bruce Grewcock, Kiewit chairman and founding member of the project.

To design the program framework, exhibits and visitor experience of Kiewit Luminarium, Omaha Discovery Trust is partnering with the Exploratorium, a global leader in the development of extraordinary science learning experiences, to create the center’s interactive exhibits and programming.

“The Exploratorium is thrilled to be collaborating with the Omaha Discovery Trust, HDR and community partners to cocreate Kiewit Luminarium,” said Tom Rockwell, Creative Director of the Exploratorium. “We are deeply inspired by the city, the region, and its history and believe this innovative new center will push the boundaries of joyful, experiential science learning as well as inclusive community engagement.”

Exhibits and Programming

As visitors move through Kiewit Luminarium, they will explore four unique areas:

• Building self and community: leads visitors to observe themselves and others from their bodies’ cells to the behaviors that make society function
• Building the world: immerses people in the investigation and testing of structures, infrastructures, landscapes, design, construction and engineering
• Building knowledge: includes the powers of observation on physical phenomena (light, motion, energy, sound and electricity)
• Making it count: invites full-body sensory participation in mathematics (numbers, geometry and financial systems)

Kiewit Luminarium construction is underway with the grand opening planned for spring 2023.

To learn more about Kiewit Luminarium and to stay up to date on project milestones, visit KiewitLuminarium.org, like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/kiewitluminarium, and follow us on Instagram at Instagram.com/kiewitluminarium.

About Omaha Discovery Trust
Omaha Discovery Trust is a 501(c)(3) organization that will oversee operations of Kiewit Luminarium: a place for discovery. Kiewit Luminarium is a place to explore astonishing phenomena and learn with your hands. It inspires lifelong interest and careers in science, technology and engineering.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Project renderings are available. Please contact megan.belt@ervinandsmith.com for imagery.