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.
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!
…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?
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 greenNEW IMAX FILMStab above to view video previews of all three IMAX films that will premiere in the newly-renovated theater on Dec. 13.
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.
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 »
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.
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.
Work in progress...from the cutting down below to the installing at the top.
Almost done – early in the day Tues 11/11/08
Checking on the install. Frank is on the job too.
This is the LAST piece!!!
Cutting the last panel.
All these guys had a hand in building the dome.
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! There are 393 panels in all. Stay tuned for more photos once the scaffolding is down.
. . .and doing it all over again, and again, and again, and again.
Working hard and making some fun shadows.
Another angle
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!
Glad they are not afraid of heights!
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 also getting an upgrade. Stay tuned for the progress . . .
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.
On March 10, 1973, the Space Theater at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center opened to the public, featuring America's first IMAX Theater and the first "tilted dome" planetarium in the world.
On September 4, 2008, the Space Theater "went dark" for an extreme makeover! New seamless dome screen, new sound system, new seats and much more! Renovations are now complete and the theater reopened on December 13, 2008!
The theater renovation is part of a $20 million capital campaign, "Creating Possibilities, Inspiring Tomorrow."
