Da Vinci Science Center officially opens, expects to attract 400K+ annually

After years of planning and changes, the Da Vinci Science Center is now officially open to the public in downtown Allentown.

Calling the $75 million dollar science center a “tremendous investment” in Allentown, Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said that the center is not only an investment in the education of young people in the region, but will serve as a major attraction to draw even more people downtown.

“This is part of the continued transformation that will bring hundreds of thousands of people to Allentown, who will spend money here,” he said.

Lin Erickson, executive director of the science center, told the crowd at the ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday night that the center is expected to attract 400,000 people to the downtown each year and is expected to generate around $33 million in direct and indirect revenue for the region.

She said that just like when the PPL Center opened in Allentown a decade ago, bringing a great deal of corporate investment into the renewal of the downtown, the Da Vinci Science Center, which recently relocated from the campus of Cedar Crest College, will help spark a second wave of redevelopment in the city.

She pointed to a number of developments going on right around the new center at 815 W. Hamilton Street, including apartments, restaurants and commercial space planned for the former PPL Tower and PPL Plaza.

She said future attractions, like the planned Archer Music Hall up the street, will add even more to the tourism draw.

And while most people are thinking of the Science Center as a place for school field trips, she was quick to point out that as a “world class” science center, the venue will attract families and even adult tourists from throughout the region.

She said her organization has been working with Discover Lehigh Valley to help tourism officials turn those visits into longer stays so that visitors to the area can patronize other attractions as well as the regions, restaurants, hotels and other businesses.

She also noted that, after hours, the venue will be available for events such as weddings and corporate meetings. It has the capacity to host more than 300 seated guests.

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