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South Florida

Museum of Science hits construction, fundraising milestone

A rendering of the science museum and construction progress as of July.
A rendering of the science museum and construction progress as of July.

The new Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science announced a fundraising milestone Wednesday, with a total of $103 million coming in through donations.

Those funds, coupled with $165 million granted by Miami-Dade County’s Building Better Communities Bond Program, bring the project within arms reach of its $300 million total cost.

(Click to enlarge) An aerial view of the museum's 50,000-gallon aquarium

(Click to enlarge) An aerial view of the museum’s 50,000-gallon aquarium

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Construction of the building is also making progress. The massive 500,000-gallon Living Core Aquarium topped off last month, and a total of 70 pumps and filtration systems have been installed throughout the museum for its many aquariums.

The news comes three weeks after Gillian Thomas, the museum’s CEO, said the museum’s old location in Coconut Grove will close by the end of August.

The new museum, located on a four-acre site next to the Perez Art Museum, is expected to open during summer 2016.

Its 250,000 square feet will be split into four sections: the Exploration Center, planetarium, Living Core and Innovation Center. Besides the classrooms and educational facilities set up for children and their families, the museum will have conference and event space, food vendors and a plethora of exhibits. — Sean Stewart-Muniz

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