High-Profile: January 2026 | Page 25

January 2026 25

Community

Stamford Museum & Nature Center Completes $ 16M Project

Stamford Museum & Nature Center’ s new Planetarium & Astronomy Center
Stamford, CT – A. P. Construction( APC) has completed the construction of Stamford Museum & Nature Center’ s new $ 16 million Planetarium & Astronomy Center – an 11,000sf, 3-story facility that now anchors the 118-acre campus and stands among the Northeast’ s most advanced astronomy centers.
The project posed a rare technical challenge: constructing a 40-foot planetarium dome and a third-floor observatory with a motorized retractable roof – both requiring exacting precision, specialized engineering, and seamless coordination. The 100-seat planetarium features dual 24K digital projectors, immersive full-dome visuals, and a surround-sound system. Above it, the observatory’ s retractable roof opens to the night sky, supported by a vibrationminimizing structure designed to optimize telescope performance. Visitors can observe solar, lunar, and deep-sky objects through a 14-inch Schmidt- Cassegrain reflecting telescope and a 152-mm Lunt H-alpha solar telescope.
“ We’ re honored to partner with the Stamford Museum & Nature Center and proud to help create a regional landmark that expands access to science and discovery for Fairfield County and far beyond,” said Andy Ashforth, CEO of APC.“ Our team brought the technical rigor and collaborative approach needed to deliver a facility this ambitious that will serve children, their families, and the tremendous staff for many years to come.”
Additional features of the construction project include a new education wing with classrooms, a glass-framed lobby gallery overlooking Heckscher Farm, high exposed-wood-beam ceilings, and outdoor terraces, pathways, and an
Interior
amphitheater-style seating area integrated into the natural landscape with gabion retaining walls.
The center marks a major milestone for the Stamford Museum & Nature Center, expanding a legacy of astronomy programming dating back to 1941.
Planterium
With modern technology and hands-on learning spaces, the new Planetarium & Astronomy Center will support a robust STEM curriculum for schools and provide immersive experiences for visitors. Over 3,000 students across Connecticut and New York are already scheduled to participate in the astronomybased programs at the center, with nearly 1,500 of them coming before the end of the year.
A. P. Construction’ s team overseeing the project included Project Executive Mark Kammerer, General Superintendent Scott Marlow, Preconstruction Manager Dimitri Seferdis, Project Manager Emily Anderson, Superintendent John Kearney, and Project Engineer Peter Radman. The architect of the project is TSKP Studio and the owners’ representative is the Construction Consulting Group, led by Todd Gambino.

$ 2M Bond Issued for International Institute of New England’ s new Lowell Facility

Lowell, MA – MassDevelopment has issued a $ 2,030,000 tax-exempt bond on behalf of the International Institute of New England, Inc.( IINE), a nonprofit that creates opportunities for refugees and immigrants to succeed through housing and food support, education, employment support, and legal services.
IINE will use bond proceeds to buy, renovate, and equip a new 21,000sf facility located at 585 Middlesex St. in Lowell, where the organization will relocate operations from its previous locations within Lowell. The site will serve as a permanent home for IINE, providing long-term operational stability for the organization and enhancing its ability to deliver services to community members. The tax-exempt bond, purchased by
Eastern Bank, helped the borrower achieve a lower cost of capital.
“ For more than a century, the International Institute of New England has been working to empower and meet the needs of immigrants and refugees in the Merrimack Valley,” said MassDevelopment president and CEO, Navjeet Bal.“ MassDevelopment is pleased to partner with Eastern Bank to provide tax-exempt financing as the organization builds a state-of-the-art facility where it can serve the community for many more years to come.”
“ The City of Lowell is proud to welcome the International Institute of New England to its new permanent home on Middlesex Street,” said Lowell Mayor Daniel P. Rourke.“ Lowell has always
been a city of opportunity, built by people who came here seeking a better life. IINE’ s work continues that legacy – helping newcomers build lives, careers, and futures here in our community.”
“ Since IINE first opened its doors in Lowell in 1918, our organization— and the thousands of refugees and immigrants who have come through our doors— have been integral to the city’ s economic and cultural fabric,” said Jeff Thielman, president and CEO of the International Institute of New England.“ We are thrilled to now be putting down permanent roots, with the generous support of MassDevelopment. Together, we are creating a new home where all community members will find belonging and opportunity.”
585 Middlesex St., Lowell, Mass. / Photo courtesy of IINE
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