New York Hall of Science Reopens Great Hall

Todd Schliemann of Ennead Architects, the firm that expanded the Queens building in 2004, completed a six-year, $25 million renovation of the structure's original exhibition gallery.

The New York Hall of Science reopened its Great Hall last weekend for the first time since 2009. This completes the renovations designed by New York–based Ennead Architects founding partner and design principal Todd Schliemann, FAIA. After expanding the Queens building in 2004, Ennead Architects restored the historic hall, the main exhibit space of the original Hall of Science, designed by Harrison and Abramovitz Architects for the 1964–1965 World’s Fair.

The $25 million restoration project included the repair of the exterior building envelope, updates to the interior of the hall and lobby, and improvements to the terrace. Inside, each of the space's defining 5,400 blue dalle-de-verre glass panels were cleaned by hand, with fifty new panels installed by Willet Hauser Studios, which fabricated the original pieces in 1964.

To celebrate the reopening, the New York Hall of Science launched its first exhibition in the Great Hall since renovations began six years ago. Connected Worlds is an animated exploration of human impacts on the environment.