Frank Lloyd Wright's Only Planetarium Reopens at Florida Southern College After Restoration
Florida Southern College has reopened the sole planetarium crafted by Frank Lloyd Wright, now available for tours and screenings. After being shut down in 2004 due to an outdated projection system, renovations commenced in 2021 under the direction of Jeff Baker from MCWB Architects. Exterior enhancements included a new roof and the installation of over 280 hand-cast tiles, while 2023 saw the restoration of original seating and finishes inside. This initiative is part of a broader effort to restore Wright's 13 structures at FSC, which were constructed between 1938 and 1958, with financial support from grants such as the J Paul Getty Foundation. Commissioned by Ludd Spivey in 1938, FSC is the only college designed by Wright and boasts the largest collection of his works, recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 2012.
Key facts
- The only planetarium designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, at Florida Southern College, has been restored and reopened.
- The Planetarium had been largely closed since 2004 due to a failed projection system.
- Exterior renovations began in 2021, including roof replacement and restoration of over 280 hand-cast textile tiles.
- Interior work started in 2023, removing a 1980s computer closet and restoring original seating.
- Jeff Baker of MCWB Architects led the renovation, having worked on FSC's Wright projects for twenty years.
- The restoration is part of a campus-wide effort since 2007 to update Wright's 13 buildings at FSC.
- Funding included grants from the J Paul Getty Foundation, which supported the 2007 Campus Heritage Plan.
- Florida Southern College is the only college master-planned by Wright and the largest single-site collection of his architecture, designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012.
Entities
Artists
- Frank Lloyd Wright
- Jeff Baker
- Ludd Spivey
Institutions
- Florida Southern College
- MCWB Architects
- J Paul Getty Foundation
- Dezeen
Locations
- Florida
- United States
- Polk County
- Pennsylvania
Sources
- Dezeen —