Post Classifieds
New planetarium for 2016
By Crissie Russo
On May 4, 2012
A state-of-the-art planetarium will be the finishing touch on Buffalo State's new
Mathematics and Science Complex, which is expected to be completed within the
next four years.
Phase two of the final construction will begin during the summer of 2014 and the
building is expected to open in fall 2016, planetarium director Kevin Williams said.
The south side of the existing building will be destroyed and rebuilt from the ground
up.
Williams said the current Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium already plays an
important role on campus, putting on a variety of shows on astronomy topics such
as the solar system, Pluto and dwarf planets. It is free for students and Williams said
he hopes for it to stay that way when it re-opens.
Williams said the biggest difference will be switching from a traditional star
projector to a digital projector. The new projector will give the screen a movie
image, allowing students to expand beyond astronomy. Biology classes will be able
to use this projector for exploring the human body and other classes will be able to
immerse themselves in the content rather than simply view pictures.
"Instead of just talking about Mars, you can fly to Mars," Williams said.
Another difference is that the planetarium is going from 24 to 35 feet across. It
will continue to hold roughly 60 people, but will be much more viewer-friendly.
Williams said there will also be fixed seating, as opposed to bench seating, which
should make looking up at the dome more comfortable. Instead of being hidden in
the basement, it will be in the main lobby for everyone to see from inside and out.
In addition to the planetarium, other improvements will be accommodated in the
new facility.
Gary Solar, chair of the earth science and science education department, said
geology, biology and chemistry offices exist in that portion of the building now.
The new building will include a brand new greenhouse for the biology department,
directly across from the classroom building. Once construction is finished, geology
and earth science faculty will move their research labs and offices back into this
part.
"The spaces will be completely up to date technologically," Solar said.
The current building is outdated and does not provide a lot of the things the
departments need, Solar said. The professors are looking forward to these improved
teaching spaces.
Kim Bagley, faculty liaison for the mathematics and science complex, said lectures
will be held in the new building. One lecture hall will seat 120 people, two more will
seat 50, and about eight will seat 24 to 30. All classes and offices in this building will
move into one of the two other finished parts when the construction begins. All of
the relocating has caused this to be a very complex, three-piece construction project.
"It's a complicated multiple surge issue," Bagley said.
For comments on this story, contact bscrecord@gmail.com.
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