California Science Center Announces Grand Opening Date for New Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center
On November 13th 2026, the California Science Center’s new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will open to the public, inviting Angelenos and visitors from around the world to experience a new architectural landmark shaped by the scale, engineering, and enduring wonder of space shuttle Endeavour.
Designed by ZGF Architects, the 200,000-square-foot expansion advances the California Science Center’s educational mission to inspire science learning and is the culmination of a thirty-year master plan to create an iconic civic destination for Los Angeles. Once open, the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will be the only place in the world where the public can see a complete shuttle system displayed in launch position.
The Air and Space Center significantly expands the Science Center’s footprint through three new multi-level galleries: the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, the Korean Air Aviation Gallery, and the Kent Kresa Space Gallery. Together, the galleries will provide an educational experience on the science and engineering principles behind atmospheric flight and space exploration, featuring 100 authentic aerospace artifacts and 100 new hands-on exhibits that encourage active learning through discovery for visitors of all ages.
The curvilinear stainless-steel exterior is inspired by the fluid geometry of the space shuttle, giving the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center a bold architectural identity. At the center of the expansion is the 30,000-square-foot Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, a 200-foot-tall volume that has been purpose-built to create a permanent home for Endeavour.
The Shuttle Gallery’s tapered conical form shapes the experience of the space shuttle. The form is supported by a diagrid structural system, with diagonally intersecting steel beams creating a strong, efficient frame. Inside, the immersive gallery brings the scale, complexity, and collective achievement of the shuttle program into view. Engineered by Arup and built by MATT Construction, the diagrid system eliminates the need for interior columns, preserving clear sightlines to Endeavour and allowing visitors to experience the shuttle from multiple levels. Visitors will view Endeavour from above, below, and alongside its full vertical stack, gaining an up-close understanding of the science, technology, engineering, and math principles behind space exploration.
It's rare to design a building for an artifact of this significance, and even rarer to create a place where architecture can help translate that scale and complexity into wonder. The Shuttle Gallery was designed to meet the magnitude of Endeavour while remaining deeply connected to the experience of discovery. When the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center opens, the public will be able to stand within a space that makes the engineering and collective achievement of space exploration tangible.
Ted Hyman, FAIA, ZGF Partner
With the opening date announced, the California Science Center is preparing to welcome the public into a new civic destination that’s designed to translate their moonshot ambition into an approachable experience that feels welcoming, immersive, and engaging to all.