NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY
NYPA's Refurbished Power Vista Lets Visitors Build Their Own Power Dam

It took thousands of workers three years to build the imposing dam at the Niagara Power Project. Now you can build one yourself in a few minutes.

The New York Power Authority's refurbished Power Vista visitor center, opening in June, features all-new, multimedia exhibits, including one that lets budding engineers design their own power dam.

Touchscreen stations allow visitors to choose the ideal site and materials for the hydropower plant and then play with different size and height requirements for the penstock, or flood gate, and the water flow to find the optimum ratio for a smooth-running, high-generating power plant.

On a small scale it's similar to what operators do at the Niagara Power Project, which the Power Vista is attached to. The project, about 10 minutes north of Niagara Falls, is New York's largest power plant and the fourth-largest hydroelectric plant in the U.S.

Other exhibits allow visitors to:

• Manage New York's power pool, controlling the demand for power across the state on hot and cold days
• Explore a myriad of energy-saving technologies
• Take on a challenge to sort renewable and non-renewable energy sources
• Create a gorge wall. Using touchscreen monitors, visitors stack layers of geologic strata to create conditions that result in a waterfall - and ideal conditions for generating power

The comprehensive redesign and reconstruction of the Power Vista also incorporates an all-new Power Up simulator, featuring a three-minute, high-energy virtual ride as a raindrop plummeting through the air, into the Niagara River and through the power plant and an interactive control room exhibit that lets visitors operate the power plant. The exhibits include the latest hands-on interactive technologies, large touch screens, and internet connectivity. Using the RFID card, visitors can look back at their stay at the Power Vista from their personal computers and smart phones.

The science exhibits are STEAM-based (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) and can be tailored to three different audiences; elementary, middle school and adult. The exhibits also allow teachers and students to access their scores at each exhibit and, with parents' permission, share photos on social media. 

The improvements also include redesigned floor layouts to enhance accessibility, including a new elevator, to complement the existing escalator.

The upgrades at the Power Vista, which first opened in 1963, were designed and installed by Hadley Exhibits Inc. of Buffalo.

The Power Vista is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except some holidays. It is located at 5777 Lewiston Road (Route 104) in Lewiston and parking and admission are free. The Power Vista can also be reached via the new Discover Niagara Shuttle. For more information, contact NYPA's Power Vista at 716-286-6661 or visit, www.nypa.gov/vc/niagara.htm.

About NYPA:

NYPA is the nation's largest state public power organization, through the operation of its 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. More than 70 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. For more information visit http://www.nypa.gov/and follow us on Twitter @NYPAenergy, Facebook, Instagram, WordPress, and LinkedIn.