MOSI Rebrands as Museum of Science and Innovation, Announces Major Expansion

Tampa's interactive museum unveils new name, digital content lab, and 30,000 square feet of additional learning spaces.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 6:39pm

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The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Tampa, Florida, is undergoing a major transformation. The museum is changing its name to the Museum of Science and Innovation (MOSI) to better reflect its focus on interactive, forward-looking exhibits and programming. Along with the name change, MOSI is also expanding its footprint by adding a new 30,000-square-foot digital content lab and classroom spaces for STEAM-focused field trips, camps, and other educational activities.

Why it matters

The rebranding and expansion of MOSI signals the museum's commitment to staying relevant and engaging the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators. By emphasizing innovation and digital content creation, MOSI aims to inspire students and the broader community to explore the frontiers of science, technology, and creativity.

The details

The new 30,000-square-foot expansion will include a Bloomberg Digital Content Lab, which will allow MOSI to produce immersive digital content for its Saunders Planetarium. The additional classroom spaces will enable the museum to host a wider variety of educational programs, from coding camps to dissection workshops. MOSI's CEO, John Graydon Smith, says the changes will allow the museum to quadruple the number of field trips and science camps it can accommodate.

  • MOSI revealed its new name, the Museum of Science and Innovation, in January 2026.
  • The museum's 30,000-square-foot expansion, including the new Bloomberg Digital Content Lab, opened in early 2026.

The players

John Graydon Smith

CEO of the Museum of Science and Innovation (MOSI).

Chris Boles

Hillsborough County Commissioner.

Mackenna Wood

Planetarium Director at the Saunders Planetarium.

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What they’re saying

“We're still MOSI, that's what everybody is going to call us anyway, but the reflection from industry to innovation I think really better demonstrates and illustrates to the public what we actually do here.”

— John Graydon Smith, CEO of MOSI

“Labs like this that introduces digital content, the Minecraft, the cookware is a fantastic way for students to become involved with STEAM projects and be interested in science again.”

— Chris Boles, Hillsborough County Commissioner

“This is going to let us make new content; it's going to let students make content that we can then put up on the dome. So, we can visualize all different kinds of science, we can travel around the universe, we can travel around the world. We can do it all from right here in the new digital content lab and then over there on the Saunder's Planetarium.”

— Mackenna Wood, Planetarium Director at the Saunders Planetarium

What’s next

MOSI plans to host a grand opening celebration for the expanded museum and new digital content lab in the spring of 2026.

The takeaway

MOSI's rebranding and expansion demonstrate the museum's commitment to staying at the forefront of science education and innovation. By investing in digital content creation and flexible learning spaces, MOSI is positioning itself to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers.