The Experimenta is a science center in Heilbronn. The world of learning and adventure in the former Hagenbucher warehouse on Kraneninsel is intended to make science and technology accessible to people of all ages. Four staged themed worlds, talent forges and an academy of young researchers serve this purpose. The Experimenta has been closed since July 31, 2017 due to renovation work. New and reopening is planned for spring 2019. The motor ship Experimenta on the Neckar will be used as an alternative accommodation from 2018.
After the warehouse had served various cultural purposes until 2003 and there were plans to use it as an extension of the city museums up to that time, the decision was made to use it as a science center in the future.
As a model of the public-private partnership, the costs of the building construction were largely borne by the city of Heilbronn, while the entire exhibition fittings and exhibits were financed by sponsors. A total of 30.8 million euros were invested in the system with around 7,500 square meters of usable space - around 3.8 million more than initially estimated. The city of Heilbronn was the largest donor with a share of 15.6 million euros, ahead of the Dieter Schwarz Foundation (15.2 million). Other sponsors included EnBW, Gasversorgung Süddeutschland, Würth Group and the Südwestdeutsche Salzwerke. The city alone financed a parking garage for around six million euros as well as other traffic structures in connection with the Experimenta. Construction work began in May 2008.
The Experimenta was inaugurated on November 14, 2009. The institution is supported by a society whose members are the City of Heilbronn, the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, the Heilbronn-Franken Chamber of Commerce, the Heilbronn University and the Academy for Information and Management. In 2015 around 168,000 visitors were counted.
In 2013 the Dieter Schwarz Foundation announced a substantial expansion of the Experimenta. A new building with around 13,500 square meters of usable space including a “Science Dome” and biosphere building should be completed by 2017. After construction work began on Kraneninsel, a chamber lock from 1734 and a mill canal made entirely of wood from 1830 were uncovered. The construction work was delayed by the archaeological excavations, so that the extension building is not expected to be completed until spring 2019.