It was designed by Spanish neofuturistic architect Santiago Calatrava, and built next to the waterfront at Pier Maua.

Its construction was supported by the Roberto Marinho Foundation and cost approximately 230 million reais.

[1] One of the goals in building the museum was to strengthen the cultural and international identity of the city of Rio de Janeiro.

The museum mixes science with an innovative design to focus on sustainable cities and an ecological world.

[1] The museum was part of the city's port area renewal for the 2016 Summer Olympics.