This summer, the Fleet Science Center invites visitors to explore science in a new way as they unveil a major transformation that expands and improves access to science for the San Diego Community. Following the completion of the second phase of the Science Starts Here Capital Campaign, visitors can explore brand-new exhibits, enjoy fresh bites in a reimagined dining space, and discover endless opportunities for hands-on learning throughout the center.
Funded by a $5.6 million grant from the State of California, this phase of the project, which broke ground in October of 2025, expands public access exhibit space by more than 20% within the building’s existing footprint. Among the most significant additions are two new exhibition galleries, one located in the former entry rotunda and another in the Fleet’s basement space, now remodeled and open to the public for the first time in decades. These spaces not only create expanded opportunities for STEM engagement with brand-new, hands-on exhibits, but introduce versatile, mixed-use areas that can be utilized for camps, workshops, and other programs, amplifying the organization’s ability to meet community needs.
Alongside the additional exhibit spaces, the Fleet is also excited to welcome visitors into Element 8 Cafe, the organization’s brand-new dining experience designed to fuel curiosity. With a menu focused on locally sourced, high-quality ingredients, Element 8 offers Balboa Park visitors an accessible, elevated, and family-friendly space to relax and recharge.
Most visibly, this phase has reorganized the floor plan of the building to create a dedicated theater queuing and concessions area and establish a brand-new entrance gallery. With the restoration of the building’s entrance to its original location outside of the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater, the Fleet has made the entrance gallery completely free-to-the-public in a monumental step towards STEM accessibility.
This transformative phase represents an enormous leap forward for the Fleet in pursuing its mission of connecting all of San Diego to the power of science. By establishing new exhibit galleries, opening a modernized cafe, and reimagining spaces within the building to improve the visitor experience and increase accessibility to science, the Fleet has paved new pathways to discovery for the San Diego community.
While the completion of this second phase marks an exciting, significant milestone, it is one part of a larger vision for the Fleet. The Science Starts Here Campaign is a comprehensive, three-phase investment in the organization’s ability to serve San Diego County. The work began with the modernization of the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater in 2023, and in the years to come, will look to develop two permanent exhibits that ignite wonder and connect visitors to the science of San Diego.
Together, these three phases represent the Fleet’s dedication to the community, and to ensuring STEM access for all San Diegans for generations to come. By investing in the flagship experience in Balboa Park, the Fleet deepens its commitment to the almost half a million students, adults, and families that visit the center 363 days each year to engage with science.
With the completion of the second phase of the Science Starts Here Campaign, the Fleet proudly steps into a new chapter of innovation and connection while cementing its role as San Deigo’s hub for science exploration and discovery.
