The California Science Center announced Monday that construction of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is complete, and installation of historic artifacts and exhibits is underway for the future permanent home of Space Shuttle Endeavour.
Construction wrapped up nearly four years after the June 2022 groundbreaking, resulting in a 200,000 square-foot expansion that will nearly double the Science Center’s educational exhibit space.
Officials said the installation of historic artifacts and interactive exhibits is well underway, and will continue for several months before the center announces an opening date.
“Through the development of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, the California Science Center is fulfilling a decades-long dream. This amazing project significantly expands our ability to accomplish our mission, to stimulate curiosity and inspire science learning in everyone, on a scale and with an impact unlike anything in our history. It is the culmination of our ambitious three-decade master plan,” said Jeffrey Rudolph, president and CEO of California Science Center.
“The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will stand as an enduring source of inspiration for generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers — and we cannot wait to share it with the world,” he added.
The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, designed by ZGF Architects, is characterized by a curvilinear stainless-steel exterior, inspired by the aerodynamic, fluid geometry of the Shuttle Endeavour. Built by MATT Construction, the building’s primary structure peaks at 200 feet.
“At the outset of this project we challenged ourselves to achieve something that has never been done before: to design the only place in the world for the public to see a space shuttle in launch position,” ZGF Partner Ted Hyman said. “We are proud to deliver an iconic architecture that translates the California Science Center’s moonshot ambition into an approachable experience that feels welcoming, immersive, and engaging to all.”
In early 2024, the Endeavour was lifted into its full stack vertical configuration at almost 200 feet tall, mated to real solid rocket boosters and ET-94, the last remaining flight-qualified external tank, and installed in the future Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, at the conclusion of a six-month process.I
n September 2025, the Hawker Siddeley Harrier T.4 fighter jet was announced as the first artifact to be installed in the Korean Air Aviation Gallery. And the first artifacts in the Kent Kresa Space Gallery were announced in November 2025, with the installation of the Rocket Lab Electron launch vehicle alongside a Solid Rocket Booster segment for a future walk-through experience and the Space Shuttle Main Engine.
The project has been funded by lead donors the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation and the state of California; principal donors Korean Air and the Kresa Family Foundation; as well as The Ahmanson Foundation, Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation, Melanie and Richard Lundquist, The Otis Booth Foundation, Ibrahim El-Hefni Technical Training Foundation, and Weingart Foundation.
Those investments, together with the support of over 900 donors, total more than $390 million raised toward the $450 million project budget.
An opening date for the center has not been announced.