Stenstrom Awarded Two Jobs
7/1/2009

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR   6/15/09

Ground was broken this morning on the $10 million museum-expansion projects that will bring a shared Smithsonian-rated traveling exhibit hall and more to the Discovery Center Museum and Burpee Museum of Natural History.

Work on the dual and combined expansion projects will begin this week and is expected to be complete next summer, with the first traveling exhibit making a visit in fall 2010.

“We’re already looking for that first one,” Discovery Center Marketing Manager Ann Marie Walker said. Burpee Director Alan Brown boasted of being able “to hang airplanes from the ceiling” in the new hall.

The museums raised $10 million in grants and donations through a fundraising campaign called Connecting Our Future, which launched in October 2004.

The museums still hope to raise an additional $2.5 million to establish endowments to pay for such expansion-related expenses as upkeep.

Dozens of area dignitaries, including elected officials, bankers, agency leaders and a host of supporters, attended Monday’s ceremonial groundbreaking, which was followed by a 10-bottle salute, the fizzing explosion of 10 Diet Coke soda bottles lined up in the museum parking lot.

At the Discovery Center, the project includes an expansion of the Tot Spot Gallery, an outdoor courtyard connecting to the soon-to-be constructed riverwalk, additional gallery space for a new agricultural exhibition, more classroom space and a special-events hall. At Burpee, the project includes a new paleo hall, a traveling-exhibition hall connected to the Discovery Center, a new multipurpose and special-events room, riverview terrace, a classroom and a renovation of the Northern Illinois University/Burpee fossil prep lab.

Discovery Center Director Sarah Wolf announced Monday that Stenstrom Companies of Rockford has received the center’s portion of the construction contract, which amounts to about one-third of the project’s total $10 million price tag. Burpee plans to open its bids for its project on Thursday.

While Steve Larson of Rockford clapped with the crowd as officials gave thanks to donors, his three grandkids, a 5-year-old and two 3-year-olds, eagerly awaited their turn to go inside and play.

“I love to the see the cooperation,” said Larson, who is a contractor with the Discovery Center, assembling exhibits for the museum. “I think the expansion will be good for the community. People come here from everywhere. My kids loved coming here when they were growing up, and now my grandkids love it.”

Leslie Tuttle of Cherry Valley started taking her kids to the Discovery Center three years ago. On Monday, they were back to take an art class.

“I think we’re already lucky to have what we have,” Tuttle said. “I think the expansion will just enhance what everyone already enjoys.”

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