Woven by Water: Science North set to transform its third floor

Ottawa is providing $650K to renovate Science North’s third floor. The “Woven by Water” project, set for 2028, will add Indigenous water knowledge exhibits.

Greater Sudbury’s Science North is receiving a major federal investment to transform its third floor. The Government of Canada, through FedNor, is contributing $650,000 toward the renovation. Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe, announced the funding on behalf of Minister Patty Hajdu last week.

“We announced $650,000 for Science North and we know how important Science North is as an economic driver to our community, both as a tourist center, as an education center, as a teaching and learning center,” said Lapointe.

“It’s important that we provide our support to Science North. They’ve been here now for 40 years, which is just incredible and hard to believe. So, it’s important that they continue to evolve.”

Project to deliver immersive experience

The project, titled ‘Woven by Water,’ will modernize 20 percent of the centre’s third floor. The design features a multi-level play structure and exhibits connecting the third and fourth floors, focusing on water cycles and Indigenous learning.

Science North CEO Ashley Larose told CTV News the new climbing structure directly addresses visitor requests for more physically engaging exhibits.

“We often hear from our visitors that they’re looking for, full body experience, especially for our older kiddos who are coming through our doors. We have our amazing toddler area, but they really need something for kids their age,” she said.

“This climbing structure, they will physically be able to use their whole bodies and climb through this structure that looks and has sort of the artistic qualities of a stream coming down from one floor to the next.”

Honouring legacy, driving reconciliation

The renovation follows the relocation of the centre’s beaver exhibit in 2024. Larose said the decision was informed by animal welfare and created an opportunity for renewal.

“As our understanding of captive beavers has increased, we understand that they really do need to be more social together and simply, our existing infrastructure doesn’t allow for multiple beavers to be located within the science center,” she said. “So, how can we make sure we’re still honouring that heritage in a way that feels right for us? And at the same time, create a new experience for our visitors.”

The third floor’s last update was in 2011. The centre anticipates the project will boost tourism and support Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation commitment, citing a precedent set by previous renewals.

“When we launched our think project renewal, which was in 2019, we saw a 16 per cent increase in our visitation, in our admissions and an increase in our membership sales as well,” said Larose.

“We know that our community, and our visitors are looking for new experiences and so this is one way that we can deliver on that and that we hope we’ll see that same kind of increase as well.”

Broader renewal, construction timelines

Science North is currently undergoing a separate project to replace all of its original windows, which are more than 40 years old.

Larose confirmed that construction on the ‘Woven by Water’ exhibit will begin once the window replacement is complete and the centre aims to publicly open the new third-floor experience sometime in 2028.