SDSO Planetarium

We were commissioned to design a new Planetarium Theatre as an addition to the existing observatory building which is situated in a wild and remote hill top location on the Craigengillan Estate, lying within the Galloway International Dark Sky Park. 

The large perfectly hemispherical domed theatre ceiling is contained within a new ‘barn like’ building form which also provides a gathering / retail space which can be fully opened to the planetarium theatre by sliding back a movable acoustic wall system. 

The new building is then linked to the existing with a new entrance lobby and facilities. 

The whole building operates completely ‘off grid’ and a new biomass boiler was installed along with additional PV panels to provide the heat and power needed.

The new facility has allowed the SDSO to transform the breadth of the experience that they are able to offer and they provide inspiring and educational astronomy sessions to the public and school groups.