First built as a production facility in 1978, the Discovery Center was in need of renovations to improve the visitor experience and to add new exhibit spaces.

Key challenges included developing solutions for how to power and protect the various artifacts without affecting the overall budget. These artifacts, which include a lunar module, wind tunnel and a rocket engine, help visitors learn about space exploration and travel. A careful work plan ensured construction progressed around the artifacts without impacting their integrity.

No significant upgrades occurred throughout the building’s lifetime, so the team began by performing an extensive investigation into the existing utilities. Since the facility originally had five electrical rooms, tracing back all of the electrical routing and circuitry required a complex and methodical process. This ensured the older wiring would not pose a hazard, whether it was removed or repurposed as part of the new installations. Crews also had to develop an optimal pathway for the new electrical system.

The existing fire alarm system also needed an extensive overhaul. It wasn’t until the final stages of construction that the team realized the majority of the building’s alarm systems were still not functioning correctly—three remote terminal units were never tied to the fire alarm systems. Although this did affect the schedule, a solution was quickly implemented and the project was completed within budget.