Work has been suspended on the proposed University of Arizona Science Center in Rio Nuevo, Tucson, Arizona, US.

According to a spokesperson for the university, the work is being put on hold due to the "current economic crisis".

The proposed US$130m (£130m, 147m euro) centre is a joint project with the Arizona State Museum and forms a part of the City of Tucson's downtown redevelopment project.

The 125,000sq ft centre was initially scheduled to open by February 2012 – the 100th anniversary of the admission of Arizona as a state of the union.

When complete, facilities at the centre were to include interactive exhibits and galleries charting the history and progress of the people living in the area.

Plans also include a reconstruction of the 18th-century Spanish mission, San Agustín, the Mission Gardens, a "S-cuk Son " – an area offering interpretion of the archaeology found at the site – a three-acre festival area and a two-acre plaza.

Developers were hoping to link the science centre with other attractions in the area – including the Arizona History Museum and Tucson Children’s Museum.

It is unclear when work is scheduled to restart.