The Museum of Science, Boston is opening the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Public Science Common, a 10,000-square-foot venue built around an immersive video projection system called Deep Space. Set to open to the public on October 10, 2026, it is meant to give scientists, creators, artists and the public a place to build experiences around current science and technology.
How it works
Deep Space projects ultra-high-resolution imagery across the floor and walls, turning the room into interactive journeys across the surface of Mars, the deep ocean or the inside of a living cell. The system combines wall and floor projection, LiDAR tracking and a spatial audio system that creates a three-dimensional listening environment.
- Projection system: Deep Space, supplied by Austrian company Ars Electronica
- Spatial audio: d&b Soundscape
- Tracking: LiDAR, so the space responds to visitors
Programming and use
The museum plans daily daytime programming integrated into the ordinary museum visit, with president Tim Ritchie hoping to add four or five evening programs a week. The space can be reconfigured for live events, including a 275-seat dance setup for a partnership with Vivo Performing Arts. The museum says it expects to turn new content into immersive experiences quickly, so it can respond to current science.
Funding
The venue was supported by a $155 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the largest in the museum's history. A celebratory event is planned for October 28.
