Visitors to the Carnegie Science Center always learn things. Yesterday, however, the lesson was how to say goodbye to SportsWorks, the popular interactive exhibition that closed after seven years.

But there is good news for those who enjoy shooting pucks at video goalies and riding virtual snowboards. The exhibits are expected to be back in fall 2009 in a new building constructed adjacent to the Carnegie Science Center on the North Shore.

"I'll miss it," said Chase Costello, 11, after returning to earth from the rock wall she'd just climbed. "I like it a lot."

Chase's stepmother, Linda Buker, 47, of Mt. Lebanon, said her family discovered SportsWorks only a month ago.

"The kids just love to come and play," she said. "Chase has been on the rock wall five or six times in 45 minutes. It's like a big playground for them. Even when it's nice outside and they can go to the pool, they'd rather come here."

And, as the management will tell you, it isn't just for children.

"I've climbed the rock wall," Ms. Buker said. "I'm not shy. I enjoy this stuff, too. I've tried the skateboard simulator."

Mike Marcus, assistant director of marketing for SportsWorks, said most of the exhibits will be placed in storage for the coming year.

He said officials hope to break ground for the new building, which is still in the planning stages, sometime this fall.

Two exhibits, the trampoline bounce and Orbitron, the human gyroscope, will be moved into the atrium in the main building of the science center.

"That will be our temporary sports atrium," Mr. Marcus said.

"And we'll have drawings and images of exhibits of the new building displayed as they are finalized. Visitors who are disappointed that SportsWorks is going away temporarily will be able to come to the science center and see what's coming."

When it returns, he said, SportsWorks will continue to build on the formula that has attracted more than 3 million visitors.

"It's popular with all age groups," he said. "It's been designed with kids in mind, but a lot of parents and teenagers come through and learn about the science behind the sports that they've been playing and watching for a long time."

The closing day was as busy as most for SportsWorks, with families and a couple of groups lining up to program their own roller coaster ride, measure the speed of their fastballs, and bounce on the trampoline.

Lori Sickles, 52, and her daughter, Britany Phillips, 15, made the trip from Meadville, Crawford County.

"My family's been here before and recommended it," Ms. Sickles said after taking on her daughter in a game of virtual volleyball.

Mark Butler, 45, of West Mifflin, has a Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh membership and regularly takes his 9-year-old twins, Dylan and Danielle. Yesterday they were there with friends.

"They never get bored," Mr. Butler said. "They really enjoy all of it. Normally, we wouldn't come here on a day this nice, but we wanted to see the Titanic exhibit today, and we realized this was the last day [for SportsWorks]."