At the New York Hall of Science’s gala, 740 guests had their own “Eureka!” moment of discovery.

Last week, they were treated to an early glimpse of the hall’s new wing, which opens to the public Monday. Polshek Partnership Architects built the structure with an appropriately high-tech translucent material called Kalwall. The modern exterior is hardly the only new attraction at the hall – inside, interactive exhibits beckon.

During the event, honoree Fred Wilpon of the Mets engaged in a virtual arm-wrestling match with the director of the hall, Dr. Alan Friedman. Each wrangled with aluminum arms that were wired to transmit the force of their opponent. In real life, the technology allows surgeons to perform microsurgery, using instruments too small to hold in one’s hand.

Board member William Rudin and his wife Ophelia took a few swings in the new batting cage – part of a sports-themed display that links the museum to its Queens neighbors: Shea Stadium and the United States Tennis Association National Tennis Center.

In the original building, many checked out “Mathematica,” a recent acquisition designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1961. The exhibit features concise biographies of famous mathematicians, filled with interesting tidbits (for instance, Fibonaci’s nickname was dunce).

Those who roamed the hall during the extra-long cocktail hour included Morley Safer, who served as emcee; the president of the Bank of New York, Gerald Hassell, an honoree; a partner at Polshek, Todd Schliemann; an executive at IBM, Nicholas Donofrio; science writer and radio host Ira Flatow; the New York City Department of Education’s new director of science, Julia Rankin, and Queens borough president Helen Marshall. At dinner, guests continued their hands-on science experiments, playing with balls and neon tubes placed on the tables.

The hall had a challenging journey before reaching this uplifting moment. When Dr. Friedman arrived in 1984, the hall had been closed for five years – a planned renovation had been halted due to lack of funds.

“The board had wonderful dreams for the hall in 1964 to create a world-class museum,” Dr. Friedman said of the museum, which is located on the World’s Fair grounds. To do so, the board was banking on profits from the fair – but it barely broke even.

“So the board has literally stuck with this for 40 years. They are feeling really good now, because we have finally accomplished the promise, to create a world-class museum,” Dr. Friedman said.

The chairman of the hall’s board is the chief executive of Verizon, Ivan Seidenberg. Other board members include Anthony Viscusi, Jane Safer, Sara Lee Schupf, Samuel Florman, Marian Bott, Jeffrey Wilpon, and Seth Dubin, who has the distinction of being the only board member to serve on the founding board.

Board members displayed a keen sense of wonder at their gala, and clearly grasp their purpose – to make the hall a place where children and adults can get excited about science, technology, and innovation.

“Every kid in the world, including every grown-up, would just love to be here,” said Isobel Konecky, a gala chairwoman along with Norma Asnes, Ms. Rudin, and Ms. Safer.