October 17, 2006 (Nashville, TN) - The Adventure Science Center today announced plans to transform Sudekum Planetarium into one of the premier planetariums in the country by rebuilding the existing facility and adding a state-of-the-art Sky and Space Wing, all of which will give children and adults across the southeast and beyond a greater window on the universe and a seat among the stars.
The $20 million project, slated for full completion in spring 2008, is funded in part by a $1.77 million grant from the Sudekum Memorial Trust, which is the charitable foundation established by the Sudekum family, longtime supporters of science education in Nashville. The City of Nashville is contributing $5 million and the federal government $1.7 million. The remainder will be raised through individual and corporate donations.
With this undertaking, Nashville, already at the vanguard in areas such as music, urban development and healthcare, will become a national leader in space education as well. The size of the planetarium’s dome will increase to 60 feet from 40 feet, making it among the largest in the nation; and the highly interactive Sky & Space wing - comprising 12,000 square feet of exhibition space, 30 original displays and 63 interactive stations - will allow visitors the chance to ask questions about the universe at the Cosmic Café, experience weightlessness in the interactive Test Bed, and step into the void in the Infinity Star Chamber.
“The City of Nashville is delighted to embrace and contribute to the Sudekum family’s vision of creating a new planetarium and Sky & Space wing where science will come alive for our area’s youth and our many space enthusiasts," said Metropolitan Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell. "The significance of this project cannot be underestimated, particularly today when we are working to improve children’s proficiency in math and science. This new addition to the Adventure Science Center will be unmatched by any facility in the Southeast and will open up a new world of exploration, adventure and discovery to children and adults alike.”
The new Sudekum Planetarium, to be completed in 2008, will have increased seating of 160 from its current 116-seat capacity. And its structural design will not only offer a far more immersive, panoramic view of outer space, but will be enhanced by the latest in projection technology than can transport visitors into outer space via razor-sharp graphics and crystal-clear sound.
“We firmly believe that the new Sudekum Planetarium, in cooperation with Adventure Science Center, can make a significant contribution to Tennessee’s transformation from a state where only 16 percent of our students will go to college, to a state where our children are among the best educated in the country,” said Ron Samuels, Chairman of the Adventure Science Center board of directors. “We must inspire our children to excel in math and science from an early age if they are going to succeed in the future, and we believe that the new Sudekum Planetarium and Sky & Space Wing is a strong step in that direction.”
The existing planetarium is scheduled for demolition in January 2007, with the initial phase of the project, including the Sudekum Planetarium, expected to be completed in spring 2008. The remaining portions of the Sky and Space wing are slated for completion in spring 2009.
The Sudekum family made its first contribution to astronomy education in Nashville in 1946 with a $5,000 gift, given in memory of Nashville entrepreneur Tony Sudekum, to install a dome inside the former Nashville Children’s Museum. The families of Tony and Nettie Sudekum’s four daughters, all deceased, continue to substantially enhance science education in Tennessee with their recent $1.77 million gift to help fund the new planetarium and Sky & Space wing.
About Adventure Science Center
For 60 years, Adventure Science Center has brought science to life for children in Middle Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, Northern Alabama and beyond. The center offers hands-on, interactive exhibits and engaging programs that encourage children of all ages to explore how science, invention and innovation affect their lives. Adventure Science Center encourages imagination and curiosity, and engages the senses in the fascinating world of science.
Adventure Science Center is located at 800 Fort Negley Boulevard. Its regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $9 for adults; and $7 for children ages 3 to 12, and seniors 65 and older. For more information, call (615) 862-5160 or visit our web site at www.adventuresci.com.
