Marking the fourth anniversary of the Columbia Space Shuttle tragedy, Congress has approved plans for the Columbia Memorial Space Science & Learning Center in Downey, Calif. The $6 million center will honor the seven crew members who died in the 2003 accident.
Ground was broken in April on the 18,000-sf facility, which will include a simulated space mission that will test the participant's decision-making skills and a variety of interactive exhibits.
New York-based Thornton-Tomasetti is the structural engineer. Miami-based design firm Arquitectonica oversaw the architecture and interior design. Tower General Contractors of Sun Valley, Calif., has been selected as GC. The project is expected to be completed by the fifth anniversary of the disaster, Feb. 2008.
