Over on Facebook (and confirmed on our end), reps for the new Chihuly Garden and Glass are talking about a late May opening for the Seattle Center exhibit, soon to be the largest collection of Dale Chihuly’s glasswork in the world. It’s still a projection, but it’s also the closest thing to an opening date they’ve offered, so we’ll take it.

In April 2011, the Seattle City Council unanimously approved the glass empire at the site of the Fun Forest—a space Chihuly’s work could occupy for the next 30 years, all but securing the Northwest artist’s local legacy. The numbers were staggering: a projected $25 million for construction, $50 million for glass, and a 1.5-acre property with an outdoor exhibit that could be seen from the Space Needle. And maybe from space. “Every artist wants their work to be seen by as many people as possible,” Chihuly said. “It’s a dream come true.”

The exhibition is divided into nine galleries—which include the neon Glass Forest, a 15-foot Sealife Tower, and the largest collection of Mille Fiori—in addition to a 70-seat theater, gift shop, cafe, and a 4,500-square-foot Glasshouse, home to Chihuly’s largest and latest work (pictured). For more on the making of the exhibit, read our Spring Arts Preview.