Discovery Center, Cube Get City OK

A racquetball dipped in liquid nitrogen becomes as hard as a rock. And a small generator releases enough voltage to make someone’s hair stand on end.

After seeing those and other demonstrations by representatives of Discovery Science Center, the City Council this week approved plans for the center to build a facility with a 117-foot decorative cube that will be clearly visible from the Santa Ana Freeway.

Some residents attending the council session questioned the size of the cube and expressed concern because its parking lot will use some of the open space between the center and nearby Santiago Creek.

But city officials and the majority of the two dozen speakers at Monday night’s council session supported the project as proposed.

“I like the cube,” said Councilman Brett Franklin, adding, “No one will ever pass through Santa Ana again . . . and not take notice, and I think that’s a good thing.”

The Science Center agreed to add 2,850 square feet of landscaping to the south side of creek, making up for the loss of open space, city officials said. Also, the city has reserved a strip of land along the north side of the creek for landscaping and expansion of a bike trail, said Robyn Uptegraff, the city’s executive director of planning.

Supporters of the project say that the new facility and the cube will be landmarks drawing positive attention to both the city and the nonprofit Science Center, which offers programs for youngsters and sells related educational merchandise.

The black polymer cube will be hollow and wrapped in green neon lights. Visitors will be able to enter the cube, and science demonstrations will be held daily, center officials said.

Officials said construction could begin by June and that the center could open by early 1998.