OMSI plans to reopen its renovated Physics Lab to the public Sunday, November 15, in Portland. The refreshed space is designed to give children and families hands-on ways to explore how physics informs everyday technology and engineering.
The redesign was led by OMSI in partnership with Project LEDO and Boeing, according to OMSI. Boeing contributed a $150,000 grant toward the refresh, and the project also received support in part from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. As KATU reported, OMSI director of museum management Alexis Baghdadi said the updated lab is built around interactive experimentation. “There's a lot of experimenting, different stations, ways that kids and families can test different ideas,” Baghdadi said, according to the station's report.
Boeing's Wider STEM Partnerships
Beyond its support for the Physics Lab, Boeing says its community engagement work backs STEM education and workforce development through partnerships with schools, community organizations and industry partners, according to Boeing.
A Lab Designed Around Belonging in STEM
The partners developed activities with the aim of helping young visitors—particularly those who have not always seen themselves represented in STEM—feel they belong in the field, KATU reported. Baghdadi said the space is intended for children and parents to explore together.
Project LEDO founder and CEO Fidel Ferrer said the hands-on activities are intended to help children build confidence as they enter the world of physics, according to KATU. Project LEDO describes its approach as culturally responsive design rooted in youth experience, according to Project LEDO.
From a Summer Target to a November Reopening
The lab’s broader vision includes considering physics from different perspectives and applying it to aerospace engineering, KATU reported. The reopening schedule has shifted: an OMSI announcement in March anticipated a summer 2026 reopening, while the museum’s more recent article gives November 15 as the public reopening date.
The Physics Lab's overhaul reflects a broader push by OMSI and its partners to connect hands-on discovery with the ways physics shapes technology, engineering, and potential careers. Portland families curious about hours or event details can check OMSI's own event planning page for the latest visitor information.
