Science City at Union Station wins experience award

Science City at Union Station was named one of two worldwide recipients for a prestigious visitor experience award.

The EDGIE Award, or Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Award, for visitor experience was given to Science City last week by the Association of Science-Technology Centers, a nonprofit organization that represents science centers and museums.

The award comes three years into a long-term strategy among Science City coordinators to transform more than half of the space and realign with education priorities, while partnering with local businesses. The museum contends that attendance and revenue growth, increased annual membership and the fast-growing maker community have contributed to its success.

“At a macro level, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) education is an important local, national and international theme,” Bob Regnier, Union Station Board Chairman, said in a news release. “It drives not only the focus of Kansas City’s Science Center, it is translating into a larger and larger share of our local economy. A vibrant Science City delivers tremendous value to our entire community.”

The award was given by a 10-member jury of professionals plucked by the Association of Science-Technology Centers.

The other EDGIE Award went to the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh. Past awardees include the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and Heureka, the Finnish Science Center in Vantaa, Finland.