Langdon Wilson, which designed the original building in 1995, obtained the permits for the work from the city pro bono and the Salt River Project contributed funding for the renovation. Ken Evans, community outreach representative for the Salt River Project, tells GlobeSt.com that the 2 1/2-year effort helped the museum blend the city's history with the history of early pioneers whose plans to irrigate the land surrounding the Salt River brought farming to the area. "We tried to make the connection so people in the Valley realize the sacrifices of what those early pioneers accomplished," said Evans.

The work updated the museum's permanent gallery and provided revolving exhibit space to display the economic, environmental and technical impact the utility has had on the region. The exhibit opened Nov. 1 and will run through December 2003 at the museum located at Science and Heritage Park at 7th and Washington streets.