Eugene Heikoff and Marilyn Jacobs Heikoff Dome Theater

On June 22, 2009, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center announced the second phase of the Digital Dome project in “Creating Possibilities, Inspiring Tomorrow,” a $20 million capital campaign to advance the non-profit organization’s mission to inspire lifelong learning by furthering the public understanding and enjoyment of science and technology.

Eugene Heikoff and Marilyn Jacobs Heikoff Dome Theater

The theater itself will be formally known as the “Eugen Heikoff and Marilyn Jacobs Heikoff Dome Theater.” The Heikoff Dome Theater has been named in memory of the couple by Mrs. Heikoff’s brother and sister-in-law, Irwin and Joan Jacobs, and her children Laurie Heikoff, Lisa Heikoff, both of San Diego, and Erica Heikoff McKeown of Providence, RI.
After 36 years of engaging planetarium shows, more than 100 IMAX titles and nearly 400,000 miles of IMAX film, the Fleet Science Center’s Heikoff Dome Theater is being transformed into the most technologically-advanced facility of its kind. Phase 1, completed in December 2008, featured the installation of the world’s first “NanoSeam™” dome screen in an IMAX theater, which allows for sharper colors and brighter, higher-contrast images. A new, specially-designed
digital surround sound system, more comfortable seating, upgrades to the IMAX projection system and numerous other improvements rounded out the first phase of the project.
The renaming of the Dome Theater signals the launch of the second phase of the Digital Dome project, which includes the installation of a state-of-the-art, full-dome digital planetarium projection system that will complement the existing IMAX projector. This full-dome video projection technology will take the Fleet Science Center’s popular planetarium shows to a new level, featuring stunningly immersive visuals and incredibly realistic simulations of cosmic phenomena. The Fleet is currently reviewing projector systems and plans to complete the installation in 2010.
Major donors thus far to the Dome project include Joan and Irwin Jacobs, Weingart-Price Fund, Don and Maryann Lyle, Patricia Carter, Joseph Cohen and Martha Farish, The Hervey Family Fund, The Nierman Family Fund, Mrs. Audrey S. Geisel and the Dr. Seuss Fund, The Helen K. and James S. Copley Foundation, Margie Warner and John H. Warner Jr., Eric and Peggy Johnson, and Nancy Robertson and Mark Cookingham. The cost of renovations to the theater, upgraded seating, improvements to the IMAX projection system and the new digital surround sound system are estimated at approximately 4.5 million dollars.

The Fleet continues to raise funds for additional aspects of the capital campaign. Planned projects will place the Fleet Science Center at the forefront of digital scientific video creation, with a digital production studio that will develop educational content in collaboration with institutions in San Diego and around the world. Shows produced will use scientific data collected and interpreted from partner institutions to take the public on extraordinary immersive journeys—inside the Heikoff Dome Theater—into a human stem cell, an atomic nucleus or virtually any environment imaginable. Moreover, local scientists, students and artists will be invited to use the Fleet Science Center’s digital projection technology to present data and other visualizations on the giant tilted-dome screen.
Based on a strategic plan that was unanimously approved in November 2005 by the Fleet Science Center’s board of trustees—then led by Board President Dr. Martha Dennis and now led by Board President Dr. Chuck Wheatley—the campaign has already raised more than $14 million from approximately 50 donors. The campaign is chaired by Fleet trustee Lori Fleet-Martin, with the assistance of the Board’s Development Committee members Carol Chang, Patricia Carter, Joseph Cohen, JoEllen Parsons, Maurice Sabado, Margie Warner and Dr. James Whitesell.
Additional information regarding “Creating Possibilities, Inspiring Tomorrow,” will be announced as the campaign progresses.
Located at 1875 El Prado, two blocks south of the San Diego Zoo on Park
Blvd, the Fleet is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the public understanding and
enjoyment of science and technology. For information regarding current admission prices,
please call (619) 238-1233 or visit our Web site at www.rhfleet.org.

IMAX® is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation

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....

 

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

 

... 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?

 

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

 

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.

Finished Dome Photos

 

Dome from stage in front looking to upper booth.

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

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.

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.

 

Dome Almost Done. . . .

Only a day or two to go……

October 26

November 8

Cutting tiles to fit . . .

. . .pulling the panel up . . .

. . .putting panel into place . . .

. . .securing to the frame . . .

. . .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 . . .

Progress Continues with Dome Surface Installation

October 15

October 26 (upper booth at left)

 

Top to bottom, behind and inside theater

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

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.

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. This is taken from behind dome at front of theater (stage area).

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.

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.

First Tile Went Up Today (10/8/08)

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

Align with struts . . .

. . .and fasten into place.

 

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.