Surrounded by a sea of supporters, the South Carolina Aquarium celebrated the ceremonial opening of the Boeing Learning Lab at the Charleston Maritime Center, the newest endeavor of the Aquarium to expand education programming for students statewide.
Situated along the waterfront of the Charleston Harbor just a short walk from the Aquarium, the Boeing Learning Lab comprises 8,500 square feet of educational space that includes four indoor classrooms, one open-air classroom, a broadcast studio to conduct virtual programs and office space for some Aquarium staff.
Since opening in 2000, the Aquarium has upheld the mission of providing accessible STEM education programs to students of all ages but had consistently faced limitations in space. After collaborative discussions with community stakeholders and the City of Charleston, the vision to renovate the Charleston Maritime Center came to fruition.
The Boeing Learning Lab will serve as the hands-on learning hub for the Aquarium’s current education programs — Dominion Energy School Programs, Virtual Programs, the High School Intern Program, Teen Conservation Crew and more — and will act as the launchpad for new offerings to better serve future students statewide.
“We are opening up the waterfront to students from all over the state to enjoy unprecedented access to our finest education programming and instructors,” said Kevin Mills, Aquarium president and CEO. “The Boeing Learning Lab at the Charleston Maritime Center will be a beacon of hope for future generations and foster stewardship of our planet’s natural resources.”
Among those in attendance were Mayor William Cogswell, representatives from Boeing, project investors, community leaders and Aquarium staff.
Education programming is slated to begin in the Learning Lab later this spring.
For more information, visit scaquarium.org