RALEIGH, N.C. – The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences opened its new Natural Research Center Friday enabled by a $4 million grant from State Employees’ CU’s SECU Foundation.
The museum’s 80,000 square-foot wing features a giant, silver globe -- SECU Daily Planet -- serving as the focal point for the new wing. A three-story multimedia program area that employs unique audio and visual technologies, SECU Daily Planet is named in recognition of the credit union grant.
The new Nature Research Center, which is adjacent to SECU's 120,000 square foot building currently under construction, provides the Museum of Natural Sciences with the opportunity to bring research to the forefront in North Carolina and highlight current scientific issues that affect daily lives.
The NRC project was a five-year undertaking with a cost of $56 million and is expected to add more than 200,000 visitors to the 700,000 who tour the nationally-acclaimed Museum each year.
SECU Daily Planet boasts a theater with multi-channel surround sound. The 45-foot square high-definition screen will be used for a variety of purposes.
