What does the renovation and rewiring of a Youngstown treasure like OH WOW! entail? For MG Electric Project Manager Michael Johnston it involves “a lot of patience and a lot of planning.”
The two-phased project consists of a complete renovation of the first floor which will relocate the entrance from Federal Plaza to Central Square and refresh almost the entire facility with new paint and new lighting. Reconfiguring the ground floor spaces and, most importantly, placing the new exhibits are the focal points of phase one.
Mark Gentile (center) is flanked by Neko Diianni (left) and Ray Carlson inside the under-construction Oh Wow science center downtown. MG Electric is the electrical contractor on the project.
Phase one is still ongoing, but MG Electric hopes to move on to phase two, which includes renovating the upper floors of the building, shortly after its completion.
Making OH WOW! wow again
OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology has been undergoing major renovations since December of 2020, and North Lima-based electrical contractor MG Electric has been onsite since the beginning.
The mission of OH WOW! is to provide a colorful, hands-on environment that encourages independent thinking through interactive STEM-based exhibits and EDUtaining programs for children of all ages — Programs they have continued to provide virtually while undergoing renovations.
Anything we can do to help renovate and uplift Youngstown is where we want to be, said Mark Gentile of MG Electric (far left). Joining him on the Oh Wow project are Ray Carlson, Neko Diianni and Michael Johnston.
OH WOW! first opened to the public on May 12, 2011 in Downtown Youngstown’s historic McCrory Building, but closed temporarily due to COVID in mid-March of 2020. This interim period has allowed for the perfect opportunity to renovate and update its facility.
MG Electric adds new shine to downtown treasure
“We are honored to work in this facility and we love to be able to give back to our community. To contribute the skills and talents of our local electricians to a project like this that our children can use and enjoy for many years makes it all worthwhile,” said Johnston.
Since 2012 MG Electric has been offering all facets of commercial, residential and industrial electrical construction including: fire alarm, teledata networks, fiber optic cabling, electric vehicle charging stations and emergency generator systems- to name a few. Projects of this capacity are commonplace for MG Electric but they still jump at any opportunity to contribute to Downtown Youngstown and better the community.
“Anything we can get into Downtown to help renovate and uplift Youngstown is where we want to be,” said Mark Gentile, MG Electric president.
The grand re-opening of Oh Wow is scheduled for mid-May. MG Electric is the electrical contractor on the project.
The grand re-opening of OH WOW! is scheduled for May 15, 2021. MG Electric would like to thank OH WOW! and their donors for making this project possible and for granting them the opportunity to have a hand in making OH WOW! brighter for the next generation of young minds.
MG Electric is a member contractor of NECA-IBEW Electricians, an association of IBEW Local 64, IBEW Local 573 and signatory electrical contractors in the Mahoning Valley.