After years of sitting dark, St. Petersburg's former Science Center is on track for a high-tech comeback. The city's Development Review Commission unanimously signed off on plans to convert the building at 7701 22nd Ave N into a $25 million Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence, a project that would more than double the site's usable space and pull K–12 programming, workforce training and startup incubation under one roof. Organizers say the revamped campus will preserve key historic elements while adding a planetarium, labs, production studios and flexible space for community events.
As reported by St. Pete Catalyst, the redevelopment is anchored by an "AI Village" that is expected to host student field trips, camps and hands-on learning experiences. Plans also call for production studios, conference space, offices and community gathering areas. The outlet notes that the DRC's unanimous June vote marked a major milestone for the project.
City filings reviewed by Tampa Bay Business & Wealth show the redevelopment would expand the site's building area from roughly 26,300 square feet to about 67,324 square feet, with an estimated cost near $25 million. The same coverage reports that St. Pete for STEAM bought the property from the city last year for $1.6 million and that organizers have already broken ground, with an opening targeted for 2027.
What Will Be Inside The Center
The project's official site lists an Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence, a LaunchAI incubator, a two-story Cafai, a restored planetarium and a Star Garden rooftop event venue, while promising to retain the historic rotunda and the Walk of States mosaic trail, according to sciencecenter.ai. Together, those pieces are pitched as a blend of K–12 programming, workforce development and Class A office space aimed at drawing startups and training programs to the campus.
Timeline And Next Steps
The DRC approval clears a major administrative hurdle but does not end the red tape. Organizers still need building permits and must address zoning variances related to building height and parking that appear in city filings. The Development Review Commission placed the project on its June agenda, according to the City of St. Petersburg Development Review Commission, and planning staff had recommended approval ahead of the vote.
Backers describe the center as both a neighborhood anchor and a training pipeline for the wider region. The project's site says the AI Village alone is expected to prepare thousands of students each year, a number organizers say is meant to help meet growing demand for tech and AI skills across Tampa Bay.
