The Gateway to Science Center in Bismarck, North Dakota, is planning a new US$40m (€34m, £26.3m) facility to expand its target audience from children to people of all ages.

Overlooking the Missouri River, the new space will morph the centre from a hands-on children's facility to one that benefits visitors young and old.

Scheduled to open in Q1 of 2017, the 65,000sq ft (6,000sq m) facility will sit on a hill on the bluff of the river. Gallery space where science exhibits are displayed will grow from the 2,500sq ft (232sq m) currently available to 27,000sq ft (2,500sq m). Other facilities in the new building will include a 200-seat theatre, a new staff and administration space, plus two classrooms for teaching and a laboratory.

A team made up of US-based HGA architects and North Dakota-based JLG architects will work on the design of the new facility. According to museum director Beth Demke, the building will be strategically placed so visitors can view how different sciences are applied throughout the community – looking at energy, medical, transportation and climate – and will be accessible via multi-use trails along the river. Demke also added that while the new facility opens up the centre’s target audience, piquing the interest of younger children in science will remain a key priority.

The centre is now in the quiet phase of fundraising and seeking major donors for the project, with the public phase starting in Q2. Funds raised will support the building’s development, educational programming and at least US$4m (€3.4m, £2.6m) in endowments to sustain the museum in the future.