The Pittsburgh Planning Commission on Tuesday approved plans to expand the Senator John Heinz History Center.

The museum, located in the city’s Strip District, is tearing down four buildings on Penn Avenue to expand its facility. Additions include a new theater, exhibition space and classrooms.

The history center owns the buildings being demolished and has used them for storage and exhibition preparation.

The six-story addition will total about 91,700 square feet and extend the center’s Great Hall, according to a presentation given to the Planning Commission.

The Heinz History Center opened in 1996 and became an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in 2000. It features pieces of local history, a sports museum and special collections.

A Smithsonian wing, which opened in 2004, has hosted exhibitions on the Civil War, Vatican artwork, the steamboat Arabia, World War II, toys from the 1950s through 1970s and the Apollo 11 moon landing.

A new “Pittsburgh’s Hidden History” exhibit was unveiled in April.

The history center last month announced an $11.5 million gift from philanthropists Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin, which will allow free admission to kids year-round beginning in September and will help fund the planned expansion.

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