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A planetarium designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright has reopened to the public in Florida, more than two decades after its projection system was shut down. Located at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, the restored planetarium now offers public performances, school tours and educational programs featuring new projection and sound technology.The planetarium is located inside the college’s Polk Science Building and is the only planetarium ever built from a Wright design, according to West Orlando News. It is also part of a collection of 13 Wright-designed structures at Florida Southern College, which the institution describes as the world’s largest collection of his architecture on a single site.The reopening follows a restoration project involving work both on the exterior and interior of the building. The final phase included the installation of modern equipment to enable the planetarium to operate again. The space had only been used occasionally since 2004, when its original projection system stopped working.“Florida Southern has long been responsible for preserving Frank Lloyd Wright’s extraordinary vision for this campus, and reopening the planetarium allows us to bring an important part of that vision back to life,” said Dr. Jeremy P. Martin, president of Florida Southern College. “This restoration honors the history of this remarkable space while creating new opportunities for our students, visitors and the broader community to experience it in meaningful ways,” he added.
Public shows four days a week
Once the restoration was completed, the college established a regular program of public performances. Visitors can attend programs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 3:30 p.m.Six programs will be offered on a monthly rotation. These include Cosmic Adventure, Destination Mars: The New Frontier, From Earth to the Universe, God, Science and Our Search for Meaning, Oasis in Space and Undiscovered Worlds: The Search Beyond Our Sun.The shows cover different areas of astronomy, including the solar system, Mars exploration, exoplanets and the wider universe. Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars outside our solar system.Each program lasts approximately 20 to 32 minutes. However, the full tour will take approximately 60-90 minutes as it also includes an introduction to the history and architectural significance of the planetarium.Tickets are $20 per person. Families and groups of four or more can purchase tickets for $15 per person. Admission to the planetarium is separate from the college’s Frank Lloyd Wright architectural tours.The facility will also be used by Florida Southern students and faculty members. Schools, community organizations and other groups will be able to organize visits and participate in educational activities.
The Restoration
The reopening follows several phases of restoration supported by government funding and private contributions. According to the college, the exterior work was funded by the state of Florida and private donors. The interior restoration received support from the federal Save America’s Treasures program, as well as private donations.The most recent phase, also supported by funding from the State of Florida, involved installing a COSM projection system and Bowen audio system. These additions made it possible to resume planetarium shows using modern technology while retaining the restored historic space.“Reopening the Planetarium allows us to bring an important part of Florida Southern’s history back to life while creating new opportunities for our students and the community,” said Tory King, director of tourism operations and visitor experience at Florida Southern College. “Architectural restoration has restored the space, and new technology now allows us to return it to active educational and public use,” she added.
A story that dates back to the 1950s
The planetarium was included in Wright’s original plans for the Polk Science Building, built between 1954 and 1958. Its first exhibition was on April 7, 1960.For several decades, it served as the teaching facility for the college’s astronomy program. Teachers used the planetarium shows to explain important astronomical concepts to students, while schools and the public could also visit.Traditionally, the establishment offered four public performances each year. However, its use became limited after the projection equipment was discontinued in 2004.Wright had been interested in designing a planetarium for several decades before including one in his plans for Florida Southern College. His design for the science building included spaces for public education, reflecting his belief that colleges should provide learning opportunities for surrounding communities as well as enrolled students.
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