The new logo unveiled for the Kamin Science Center on Thursday has a “K” for Kamin and an image that represents a telescope positioned toward a sky of stars — signifying the love of science by Daniel G. Kamin and the gift of a lifetime to the museum on Pittsburgh’s North Shore.
The renaming honors the $65 million gift from Daniel G. Kamin and his wife, Carole L. Kamin.
The former Carnegie Science Center is now officially the Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center, or the Kamin Science Center for short.
Fascinated by astronomy, Kamin built his own telescope at the former Buhl Planetarium at the age of 13, which helped to encourage a passion for science and discovery that has endured throughout his life.
That telescope is on display in the lobby.
“I love that I am here to see the telescope here,” said Daniel Kamin, a Shady Side Academy graduate, smiling and giving a thumbs up as he posed for photos near the telescope.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop | TribLive
Daniel Kamin gives a thumbs up in reference to the telescope he made a teen. The telescope is displayed in the lobby of the Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center on on Pittsburgh’s North Shore on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.
Carole Kamin found the telescope when she was looking through holiday decorations in storage that she uses when creating a tree for the annual Carnegie Trees exhibit at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Oakland. “We believed that telescope had the potential to be valuable,” she said.
The Kamins, longtime supporters of the Carnegie Museums, earlier this year made a $25 million donation to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
Daniel Kamin continues to ask questions about space and science. The contributions from him and his wife are just the starting line, said Jason Brown, the Henry Buhl Jr., director of Kamin Science Center and a vice president of Carnegie Museums.
“This gift is fuel to power innovation,” Brown said.
The new starfield logo was developed with Rebel Fox branding agency, said Ned Schano, senior director of marketing and communications at Kamin Science Center. The stars represent exploration and curiosity, with the image a nod to Daniel Kamin’s telescope.
“Our new brand connects our past, present and most importantly, our future,” Schano said. “It reflects the legacy of the Buhl Planetarium, honors the amazing story of Dan Kamin’s first telescope, and points toward the limitless possibilities of curiosity.”
Kamin Science Center
The new logo design for the Kamin Science Center, formerly Carnegie Science Center
The museum staff has spent the past year and a half planning for a relaunch of the space, thanks to the Kamins’ gift — the largest in Carnegie Museums’ 130-year history.
“This is much more than a name change — it’s a reimagining of what a museum can be,” said Steven Knapp, president and CEO of Carnegie Museums. “This is truly an historic day because of the amazing generosity of the Kamin family that will support and sustain key initiatives for generations to come.”
The science center has been closed since Sept. 2 to allow for the updates and will reopen on Saturday. Visitors will walk into a redesigned main lobby with a 25-foot digital media wall, a pollinator-friendly entrance garden named Carole’s Garden, vibrant new exterior signage and a comprehensive wayfinding system that will make navigating the five-floor museum easier.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop | TribLive
As part of a re-launch, billboards will be seen throughout the city of Pittsburgh this weekend to highlight the debut of the Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center on on Pittsburgh’s North Shore.
A fitting new exhibit for this sport-loving town is Sports360, scheduled to debut in December. The 9,500-square-foot experience will be the largest exhibition at the science center and “will combine the thrill of sports with the science behind play,” according to the Kamin Science Center.
The Science of Speed experience is scheduled to open next summer in the former SportsWorks building. It will delve into the physics, engineering and adrenaline behind the world’s fastest race cars. Described as a two-story electric kart track, paired with interactive exhibits, modern and vintage high-performance vehicles, and a racing-inspired lounge and restaurant, it is expected to debut next summer. This area will be open later hours for an evening entertainment option.
An Indy Car currently on display in the main lobby is owned by Fox Chapel resident Chip Ganassi of Chip Ganassi Racing.
The Kamin Science Center attracts more than 500,000 visitors each year, according to officials.
The science center normally introduces a new exhibit or experience every two and a half years. With the new funding from the Kamins, there will be nine over the next 27 months, Brown said.
“We are dreaming big,” Brown said. “I am shaking with excitement. This is allowing us to be the science center we want to be. We want the city of Pittsburgh to see this path we are creating, to be inspired, and to follow their curiosity.”
These plans will inspire curiosity for generations to come, Carole L. Kamin said. She added that it wasn’t just her husband’s curiosity about science but his curiosity about business. In building the Kamin Realty Company, he ventured outside of Pennsylvania and has real estate connections in 48 states.
“Because of my husband’s success, we were able to do this,” she said.
The Kamins have three sons, Matthew, Michael and Philip, who are supportive of their parents’ philanthropy. The Kamin Family Foundation has been created to continue a legacy of giving.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop | TribLive
Daniel G. (right) and Carole L. Kamin attended a press event unveiling future exhibits and experiences from their $65 million donation to the science center on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, which has been renamed the Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.
The couple’s history of giving in the Western Pennsylvania area was recogized last year with the 2024 Outstanding Philanthropists award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Western Pennsylvania Chapter.
“Science sparked my curiosity as a child, and it continues to inspire me today,” Daniel Kamin said in a statement. “Carole and I hope this gift will provide families with a similar sense of possibility and wonder that I felt during my many visits to the Buhl Planetarium.”
Looking ahead
Over the next two years, more than 75% of the Kamin Science Center exhibit spaces will get a new look.
The Peirce Atrium will be an interactive exhibition that will fill the museum’s four-story atrium with light, movement, and imagination.
A Building Futures exhibition will spotlight skilled trades and the science behind some of today’s most in-demand careers.
A Responsive Science display will explore the local impacts of climate change in Southwestern Pennsylvania through immersive storytelling and innovative design.
The plan also includes a community-focused installation in the museum’s north parking lot with expanded green space and interpretative science displays and a first-floor gallery refresh.
A new fourth floor exhibition is being designed specifically for young explorers to foster curiosity and discovery through age-appropriate science play.
An upcoming “Ignite Your Curiosity” campaign will be displayed across billboards, television, digital ads, and social media, and includes a television commercial voiced by actor Jeff Goldblum, a Pittsburgh native.
Billboards will be seen starting this weekend. There is also an updated website, kaminsciencecenter.org.
Carole Kamin said the garden in front of the science center in her name was a surprise. She especially loves that it is pollinator-friendly.
“We want to inspire young people,” Daniel Kamin said. “And get them thinking what’s out there and beyond in the universe. We hope this relationship creates more interest in science.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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