Space Theater slideshow on SignOnSanDiego.com

The online version of the San Diego Union-Tribune, www.signonsandiego.com, is currently hosting a two-minute audio slideshow focusing on the renovation of the Fleet’s Space Theater.  The slideshow, which features stunning photographs taken by Union-Tribune staff photographer Nancee Lewis, takes the viewer through the entire Space Theater renovation project from start to finish. 

To view the slideshow, click HERE

Nancee visited the Fleet on a weekly basis during the project to capture every detail and nuance of the transformation.  If you recognize a familiar voice, that’s because the slideshow is narrated by the Fleet’s own Eileen Best, who has worked at the Space Theater console for over 30 years. Next time you see (and hear) Eileen at the Space Theater, be sure to compliment her on the slideshow! :)

WE ARE OPEN!!

From the new entry area....

From the new entry area....

 

...to the new carpet as you enter the new theater...

...to the new carpet as you enter the theater...

 

... and new seats and lighting under the new dome. Come check it out!

... and new seats and new lighting under the new dome. A new digital sound system. Plus three new films. Come check it out!!

Three Days & Counting…

…until the Space Theater reopens!  We’re racing toward the finish line to put the finishing touches on the theater prior to this Saturday’s official grand reopening.

Yesterday, new house lights were installed inside the theater and while the light color won’t necessarily be green, the light fixtures sure are!  The 24 high-tech LED light panels use less than 10% of the total electricity consumed by their incandescent predecessors.  Plus, they’ll last many times longer before needing to be replaced.

Just for fun, here’s a ”mystery photo” from the new theater.  Any guesses?

What am I?

What am I?

 

New Films & Opening Date Announced!

The countdown is on! The Space Theater will reopen for daily IMAX shows on the new NanoSeam Dome screen on Saturday, December 13. (barring any unforeseen construction delays, of course)  

Click on the green NEW IMAX FILMS tab above to view video previews of all three IMAX films that will premiere in the newly-renovated theater on Dec. 13.

Dome Finished

Finished dome from catwalk behind

Finished dome from catwalk behind

 

Carpeting going in now. Then seats. Not too long now.....

Carpeting going in now. Then the seats. Getting closer to re-opening.....

New Time-Lapse Video: NanoSeam Dome Complete!

In this three-minute video, the “stellar” team from Spitz attaches the 393 aluminum screen pieces to the web-like dome framework (see previous video).  Just a reminder, this is the world’s first NanoSeam IMAX Dome to be installed anywhere!  It will appear completely seamless under projection and improve the overall image quality of IMAX films by leaps and bounds.  By the way, this video moves pretty fast, so if you’d like a closer look at the installation of the last few tiles, check out Mary Anderson’s amazing photos HERE. 

As with all of our time-lapse videos, they can be easily found on our Time-Lapse Images page by clicking on the green tab at the top of the page.

Space Theater Sound System

When planning began for the Space Theater’s new sound system, 3 considerations arose immediately: 1) noise & vibration control, 2) architectural acoustics and 3) the sound system technology itself.

1. Noise and Vibration Control

Isolation from noise sources inside and outside the theater such as traffic, fans, compressors, IMAX projector and the eventual Fulldome projector.

The IMAX projector is quite loud, and we wanted to reduce the amount of leakage from the projection booth into the theater. Unlike conventional booths, located in the rear of the theater and separated by glass, our projector is underneath the center section and moves up a 2 story elevator to the center of the theater. The large box in the middle of the upper set of seats is the location of the projector when in operation. The central position at the focal point inside a hemisphere causes the sound to be even louder. Read more »

Finished Dome Photos

 

Dome from stage in front looking to upper booth.

Dome from stage in front looking to upper booth.

It's a dirty job but someone has to do it! Console Manager Eileen Best throughly cleans the theater of dust and debris so the carpet and seats can be installed.

It's a dirty job but someone has to do it! Console Manager Eileen Best spent this weekend thoroughly cleaning the theater to get it ready for carpet and seats.

New dome from upper booth

New dome from upper booth

First New IMAX Film Announced!

Click on the green “New IMAX Films” tab above to find out the first of three new films that will premiere in the Fleet’s newly-renovated IMAX Dome Theater next month.

The exact reopening date, along with information about two other new films will be announced very soon… stay tuned!

Do you twitter?  The Fleet Science Center will use this fun new technology to announce the grand reopening date of the Space Theater and online ticket sales information. If you already have a Twitter account, go to http://www.twitter.com/fleetscience and click “Follow.” If not, it’s easy and free to sign up! Just go to www.twitter.com and follow the instructions to create an account. You can even receive instant updates via text message on your mobile phone! Not ready to twitter yet? The announcements will also be made via e-mail and on this blog.

Dome is Done!

Work in progress...from the cutting down below to the installing at the top.

Work in progress...from the cutting down below to the installing at the top.

Almost done - early in the day Tues 11/12
Almost done – early in the day Tues 11/11/08
Checking on the install. Frank's on the job, too.

Checking on the install. Frank is on the job too.

 

This is the LAST piece!!!

This is the LAST piece!!!

Cutting the last panel.

Cutting the last panel.

All these guys had a hand in building the dome.

All these guys had a hand in building the dome.

The last panel going into place! As this was being done, the radio was playing the Beach Boy's "Sloop John B" with the works "I want to go home..." Perfect sentiment for these guys who have been away from home during this entire install.

The last panel going into place at 5:45pm. As this was being done, the radio was playing the Beach Boys "Sloop John B" with the words "I want to go home....." Perfect sentiment for these guys who have been away from home during this entire install.

All done! Stay tuned for more photos once the scaffolding is down.

All done! There are 393 panels in all. Stay tuned for more photos once the scaffolding is down.

 

Dome Almost Done. . . .

Only a day or two to go……

October 26

October 26

November 8

November 8

Cutting tiles to fit . . .

Cutting tiles to fit . . .

. . .pulling the panel up . . .

. . .pulling the panel up . . .

. . .putting panel into place . . .

. . .putting panel into place . . .

. . .securing to the frame . . .

. . .securing to the frame . . .

. . .and doing it all over again.

. . .and doing it all over again, and again, and again, and again.

Working hard and making some fun shadows.

Working hard and making some fun shadows.

dsc_3543elr
Another angle

Another angle

From here you can see everything. From the cutting down below to the scaffolding and the installers up above.

From here you can see everything. From cutting the panels down below to the scaffolding and the installers up above. The anxious Console Manager is checking progress, peeking in from the Console office (red doorway). Can't wait to get shows going again!

Hope you're not afraid of heights!

Glad they are not afraid of heights!

 

This shows the difference in shading on the dome material. New surface will be more reflective and give a much better picture!

This shows the difference in color of the dome material. New surface will be more reflective, virtually seamless, and give a much better picture.

Entrance to Space Theater is getting an upgrade, too. Stay tuned for the progress . . .

Entrance to Space Theater is also getting an upgrade. Stay tuned for the progress . . .

Progress Continues with Dome Surface Installation

October 15

October 15

October 23

October 26 (upper booth at left)

 

Top to bottom, behind and inside theater

Top to bottom, behind and inside theater

Tiles going in from lower level to upper. Frank still overseeing work.

Panels going in from lower level to upper. Frank still overseeing the work.

Tiles are riveted to struts. Rivets carefully Can you see the finished rivets?

Panels are riveted to struts. They are carefully aligned using the pegs. Can you see the finished rivets?

Check out the seams. Rivets are almost invisible.

Check out the seams. Rivets are almost invisible.

This is the tedious part. Panels must be cut to exact measurements so there is minimal space between each section. Coming along, right on schedule.

One Week Later – Dome tiles going up

Starting at foundation. First couple of layers are done.

Starting at foundation. First couple of layers are done. This is taken from behind dome at front of theater (stage area).

Top of dome. Upper booth/rear of theater at left.

Top of dome. Upper booth/rear of theater at left.

Looking through new dome. Note guys preparing tiles for installation. They are at very center. New dome is perforated, similar to old one.

Looking through new dome. Note guys preparing tiles for installation. They are at very center. New dome is perforated, similar to old one.

Close-up of guys moving tiles after final cut. Note image of dome holes near bottom.

Close-up of guys moving tiles after final cut. Note image of dome holes near bottom.

Preparing the struts with blackout material so metal does not shine behind dome.

Preparing the struts with blackout material so metal does not shine behind dome.

First Tile Went Up Today (10/8/08)

Lowering tile into place. First tile installed at front of dome, by stage.

Lowering tile into place. First tile installed at front of dome by stage.

Align with struts . . .

Align with struts . . .

. . .and fasten into place.

. . .and fasten into place.

 

Tiles in foreground are waiting to be sized and installed. They are lighter than they appear in photo as they are in shadow.

Tiles in foreground are waiting to be sized and installed. They are lighter than they appear in photo because they are in shadow.

This is the time-consuming part. All seams must be exact to appear “seamless” when finished.

New Time-Lapse Video of Dome Grid Assembly

With the “dome-olition” complete, the structural framework for the new “NanoSeam” dome screen can be installed. In this one-minute video, the web-like framework is assembled.

Please note that the black paint on the framework makes it rather difficult to see the individual pieces going up, and sometimes the crew blocks the camera… but keep watching to the end of the video, as it becomes easier to see about halfway through.

As with all of our time-lapse videos, they can be easily found on our Time-Lapse Images page by clicking on the green tab at the top of the page.