For Da Vinci Science Center board member Jane Ervin, the reasons for wanting to expand science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley are numerous – and at least a dozen of them are close to her heart.
“I’m blessed with 12 grandchildren and like most grandparents I want there to be opportunities here for them, and for all children, to learn and reach their highest potential,” said Ervin, a former Lehigh County government official and retired CEO of Community Services for Children, Inc. in Allentown. “The demand for STEM education is expanding by leaps and bounds. Our area is doing a good job meeting the needs of younger children, but once they hit upper primary- and secondary-school ages and beyond, a robust STEM experience really isn’t here for them.”
But that may soon change with the proposed 2022 opening of Da Vinci Science City, a large-scale, state-of-the-art science center planned for downtown Easton. The project is a partnership of the Allentown-based Da Vinci Science Center and the city of Easton and is a recipient of a $200,000 grant from the BB&T Economic Growth Fund. It’s set to receive final plan approvals later this year.
The Da Vinci Science Center staff expects the venue to be a chief economic driver for downtown Easton and a major tourist attraction for the Lehigh Valley. In addition to offering distinctive hands-on experiences integrating art and design with traditional STEM concepts, the center plans to feature exhibits such as a 100-foot-tall walk-through Vitruvian human body, a “Nature Dome” with live animals, a factory floor and a changing gallery featuring national touring experiences like exhibits exploring the science behind Harry Potter and Pixar.
“We want the grants we make to have a sustainable economic and quality-of-life impact, and reflect the values and vision of the local community as much as possible,” said Travis Rhodes, BB&T Delaware Valley/Lehigh Valley Regional president. “What excited us about this project is it truly brought together a full range of community stakeholders in the planning process – from downtown Easton businesses to K-12 schools, technology firms, and the region’s colleges and universities. It represents community collaboration at its best.”
According to results of the planning studies, Da Vinci Science City is projected to attract more than 600,000 visitors annually, create 200 permanent, full-time jobs, with an emphasis on hiring Easton residents, and produce $45 million in direct economic activity and $100 million in total economic activity each year.
“This is a very ambitious project so we’re incredibly grateful for the BB&T grant because it helped fund a lot of the needed studies during a critical time in the master planning process,” said Da Vinci Science Center Executive Director and CEO Lin Erickson. “It helped us refine our programmatic vision for the new center and ensure the project is capable of accomplishing all its educational and economic goals.”
By introducing much-needed programming for the region’s older children and adults, the new Easton venue will complement the Da Vinci Science Center’s existing facility in Allentown, which will refocus its mission over time as a children’s discovery center for children ages 8 and under.
“Making this new center a reality will be really powerful and transformative for the Lehigh Valley,” Ervin said. “No matter what your age, our community will have a place you can go with your family and share in a love of learning.”