Work of art: the Leonardo aims to be much more than a musty museum.

• Author: Johnson, Melanie

Innovation is not an abstract concept at The Leonardo. This is a place dedicated to making it a way of life for Utahns.

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The Leonardo opens its doors to the public this fall and will do so with a singular mission: to become a hub for creativity and forward thinking in the realms of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

The leaders here are determined that this center will be more than another downtown Salt Lake City museum. Its offerings will include a robust schedule of panel discussions, workshops, educational seminars and classes, in-gallery talks, film series, dance and theater performances, to name a few. In essence, it will be a place that engages Utahns by sparking an interest in new ways of learning about the world.

"It gets the message out very clearly that innovation is important to Utah, innovation is happening in Utah and the whole culture of that is something The Leonardo can do uniquely," says Peter Giles, executive director of The Leonardo.

Visitors will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with real scientists, artists and engineers; exhibits will be focused on seeing these experts in action and showing concepts and ideas that will inspire children and adults alike to further pursue these disciplines.

"A lot of the science centers make three-dimensional versions of textbooks that are engaging and interesting, but they are still fact based," says Alexandra Hesse, associate director of The Leonardo. "Where we come in and where we connect to business is more on the inspiration side and eye-opening side."

PARTNERS AND PATRONS

Hesse sees The Leonardo serving as a public platform for the value of growing and nourishing innovative thinkers. To this end, it is partnering with the University of Utah, Brigham Young University and Utah State University to foster a synergy between higher education, technology leaders and the local business community. The universities have embraced the idea of partnering with The Leonardo because it gives them a chance to expose students to ideas and experiences not available through traditional learning channels.

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The Leonardos mission has drawn plenty of believers from the local business community as well.

Jim Sorenson, trustee for the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, sees great potential in what The Leonardo can accomplish when its doors are opened. That is one reason why the Sorenson Legacy Foundation helped fund the James L. Sorenson Family...