Columbia Basin College Will Open STEM Center by 2027

The Pasco-based college plans to launch an immersive STEM facility following a $3.25 million donation.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Language Learning

Isometric editorial illustration of a modern architectural pavilion model with geometric steel structures, representing a new college science learning center. — Columbia Basin College is launching a new $3.25 million STEM center in Pasco, Washington, scheduled to open to the public in 2027. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Columbia Basin College is developing a new STEM learning center in Pasco, with plans to welcome the first public visitors in 2027. The project is supported by a $3.25 million gift from Battelle.

Why it matters

The center aims to provide the local community with immersive and hands-on science and technology experiences. It will serve as an extension of the college’s existing four-year degrees in fields like cybersecurity and computer science.

The initiative is backed by a $3.25 million contribution from Battelle, an organization with 60 years of operation at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The site will repurpose the former New Horizons High School building.

The players

Columbia Basin College

A public college that offers various four-year degrees and is currently spearheading the development of the new STEM center.

Battelle

A private nonprofit applied science and technology development company that has operated the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for 60 years.

The details

Columbia Basin College has hired a program coordinator and is collaborating with an advisory board to finalize the layout and exhibit programming. The facility will be designed to support the college's focus on technical degrees including software development and computer science.

Battelle provided a $3.25 million donation to the college in 2025.
The STEM center is scheduled to welcome its first visitors in 2027.

Culture Shift

This project reflects a broader trend of local educational institutions partnering with major scientific organizations to improve public literacy in technical fields. The development signals a shift toward making high-level STEM learning accessible to the general public in Pasco.

Residents in Pasco can expect new opportunities for hands-on scientific engagement once the center opens in 2027. The project also bolsters the local educational infrastructure, supporting students pursuing technical four-year degrees.

The takeaway

This facility offers a practical way for local students and the public to engage with advanced technology outside of a traditional classroom. Visitors should look for updates on programming as the opening date approaches in 2027.