Museum of Science Asks Cambridge to Extend Its Liquor License to the New Bloomberg Public Science Common
The Cambridge License Commission will hold a public hearing by Zoom on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 9:30 a.m. The new two-floor space opened Oct. 10.
Original reporting from public records by Watchman Report staff ·
The Museum of Science is asking the Cambridge License Commission to alter its all-alcohol common victualler license to cover the new Bloomberg Public Science Common, according to a public notice published Oct. 8 (case LNEO0608776). The request would add the roughly 10,000-square-foot, two-floor space to the licensed premises, bringing the total to about 59,000 square feet.
The commission will hear the request on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. by Zoom, according to the notice. The meeting link will be posted on the License Commission's agenda at cambridgema.gov/license 48 hours before the hearing.
The Bloomberg Public Science Common opened Oct. 10, with a celebration planned for Oct. 28, the museum said in an Aug. 19 announcement. It was funded by a $155 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the largest in the museum's history, and was designed by William Rawn Associates and built by Consigli. It overlooks the Charles River.
The law firm WilmerHale announced in early October that it advised on up to $7 million in tax-exempt bond financing for the museum, issued through MassDevelopment and owned by Eastern Bank, which funded the final portion of construction.
Members of the public can attend the hearing and comment. Watchman Report is not taking a position on the license request.
Watchman Report read the Cambridge License Commission's legal notice for case LNEO0608776, published Oct. 8, 2026, the Museum of Science's Aug. 19, 2026 announcement and WilmerHale's October 2026 announcement on the museum's bond financing. Square footage figures are from the notice. Hearing details may change; check the License Commission agenda before attending.
- Public notice: Cambridge License Commission hearing, case LNEO0608776 (opens in a new tab)
- Cambridge License Commission (agenda and hearing links) (opens in a new tab)
- Museum of Science: Bloomberg Public Science Common announcement (opens in a new tab)
- WilmerHale: Museum of Science bond financing (opens in a new tab)
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