The Dr. Phillips CineDome at Orlando Science Center is set for a complete renovation, thanks to a $1 million donation from Dr. Phillips Charities.
This grant, combined with other campaign dollars, will help to bring new planetarium shows to the Loch Haven Park museum along with big-screen movies and laser light shows. Construction on the project — which includes an upgrade to an 8K full dome digital laser projection system — is set to begin in fall of 2025 and wrap up in spring of 2026. The CineDome will remain open until construction begins.
“This contribution will help transform the Dr. Phillips CineDome into a world-class, immersive experience that will inspire future generations of learners and innovators,” said Ken Robinson, CEO and president of Dr. Phillips Charities, in a news release. “We’re proud to support a project that fosters curiosity, education, and exploration right here in Central Florida.”
The CineDome renovations also include the installation of an immersive audio system, a dome screen replacement and new seating, which will allow for guest speakers, live shows and demonstrations.
“These enhancements will greatly increase the quality of our movie experiences and return us to our roots as a planetarium with a fully digitized system, ideally suited for expanded educational programming,” said JoAnn Newman, president and CEO of Orlando Science Center, in the news release.
Since 1997, the Dr. Phillips CineDome has welcomed almost 4 million viewers with documentaries projected onto a tilted screen that stretches 79 feet in diameter.
Jeff Stanford, Orlando Science Center’s vice president of marketing, said the CineDome project will be “transformational.”
“It really is going to be a game changer because the Dr. Phillips CineDome is an amazing part of the Orlando Science Center experience,” he said. “It is one of the largest giant dome screen theaters in the nation. When we opened in 1997, it was really one of the flagship offerings, but it’s still a film system.”
When the center first opened its doors, it was called the John Young Museum and Planetarium, so this upgrade represents a return to its roots.
“This project is significant because it allows us to bring planetarium shows back on the schedule with incredible visuals,” Stanford said. “It’s going to allow us to create some original content and to be able to do more great things with guest speakers and data visualization. We will also continue to do amazing giant screen films and get laser light shows back in the rotation.”
The initiative is part of Unlock Science, a multi-year fundraising effort of millions of dollars to fund upgrades to the center. The campaign has raised more than $30 million since 2014, helping to fund projects like KidsTown, the STEM Discovery Center and the new Life exhibit.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Dr. Phillips Charities for their trust and investment in us,” Stanford said. “This continues to move the Unlock Science campaign forward, which allows us to renovate and transform Orlando Science Center to continue to make it an engaging and relevant resource for our community.”
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