City Council approves Science Center sale

The St. Petersburg City Council voted unanimously on Thursday to approve the sale of the former St. Petersburg Science Center, clearing the way for its transformation into a reimagined regional hub for innovation, education, and community engagement. The new Science Center will build on the site’s nearly 60-year legacy of inspiring curiosity in STEAM fields. Plans call for the facility to be reborn as a cutting-edge emerging technologies campus with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI). The redeveloped Center is envisioned as a vibrant ecosystem where education, research, creativity, and community intersect, advancing the region’s capacity to lead in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. At its core, the modernized Science Center will serve as a center of excellence for AI, featuring specialized labs, training programs, and new pathways for workforce development. The planned “AI Village” aims to prepare thousands of students annually for future careers, while LaunchAI — a two-story workspace anchored by a sky conference room — is expected to support the launch and growth of early-stage companies.