Report finds MiSci fit to stay open but needs serious modernization

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Schenectady County officials announced a huge investment into the Museum of Innovation and Science (MiSci) on April 11th, following a recent report into the building's infrastructure. The report found the building to be structurally sound but revealed that much of the museum's hardware and machinery needed to be modernized.

 A shift in the outdoor foundation on the property's patio caused water to nearly ruin it's precious collections. According to Chris Hunter, the president of MiSci, they used dehumidifiers to dry up the water but there needs to be a permanent fix.

"In July 2023, when we had extreme rain and humidity, I think it was like nine or ten inches of rain for the month," Hunter said. "The office was kind of soaking up some water; it's actually in the basement essentially right next to where the patio is."

This spurred up concern within the community over whether the museum should and could stay open. Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara was able to secure $10 million in the 2024-2025 budget to put towards keeping MiSci going.

"So we had stakeholders come forward, myself and we heard from the community that that is not what they wanted," Santabarbara said. "They wanted to keep this museum here as a part of Schenectady. Its been here forever, and they want to make sure it could continue into the future."

In April of 2024, a total evaluation of the building was done to see how much of the $10 million would be used up. The report found about $8.5 million is needed to not only fix the foundation issues but also give a facelift to the bathrooms, fire and alarm systems, and roof and replace the entire parking lot.

"Some of the other systems in the building for the heating and cooling, like the air handlers, are still original to the building in 1968 and were made by a company that no longer exists," Hunter said. "And then some of the plumbing fixtures are outdated."

Both Santabarbara and Hunter said putting money towards revamping MiSci is the only solution that felt right to preserve the archives and keep the museum open for generations to come.

"No doubt, no doubt," Santabarbara said. "I knew there was a path forward."

"I came here as a five-year-old back in the late seventies, and I came here with a field trip in 5th grade to see a hologram exhibit," Hunter said. "So yeah, the museum is near and dear to my heart."

The museum's board is fully behind the report's findings and is ready to move forward with the project. They plan to meet next month to move the process forward. According to Hunter, the first step in construction is fixing the roof, which will take place this summer.