The Brightest Planetarium Experience in North America!

With our local partner in Canada, Solotech, global leader in audiovisual and entertainment technology, we installed a powerful 8K system in the impressive 21m in diameter and three-story tall, Infinity Dome theatre at TELUS Spark Science Centre in Calgary (Canada).

We installed our software, SkyExplorer, along with 8 x 4K Christie Griffyn 4K32-RGB projectors producing 34,000 lumens each. The dome now delivers the brightest on-screen image of any planetarium in North America with 272,000 lumens illuminating the massive screen in 8K resolution!

Opened in its current location in 2011, the TELUS Spark Science Centre (Spark) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada entertains and inspires hundreds of thousands of people every year, through creative encounters with science, technology, engineering, math and the arts.

Within Spark is the Infinity Dome theatre, a 21m in diameter and three-story tall dome theatre that transports guests through the Universe and shows the latest giant screen films.

Spark wanted to upgrade the Infinity Dome theatre’s digital system to have a state-of-the-art planetarium.

Spark’s goal was to renovate the digital system of its Infinity Dome theatre with high-performing technologies to offer exceptional renderings and journeys through the Universe to the audience. The Spark team were therefore looking for a powerful planetarium software along with a high-quality digital projection system to deliver the most stunning images in real time with the highest levels of brightness.

“The science centre had very specific technical specifications, including the brightness and the resolution of the system,” says Philippe Giron, Account Manager at Solotech. They were looking for a digital projection system capable of providing very high levels of brightness, vivid colors, with quiet operation.

A close collaboration throughout the project to provide the best solution.

Our team and Solotech’s worked closely with the Spark team, as well as consultants Bill Peters, Ian McLennan, and Sebastien Gauthier, to understand the needs and provide the best solution.

To select the projectors best suited to the dome, Solotech organized a shoot-out between high-brightness models. Eight Christie Griffyn 4K32-RGB pure laser projectors were selected for the project, which produce bright, true-to-life visuals and achieve greater than 96% of the Rec.2020 color gamut. Griffyn 4K32-RGB operates quietly, at less than 46dBA at full brightness.

To plan for the installation and placement of the projectors, a 3D cloud point view was generated to visualize every detail of the planetarium. Given the dome’s shape, installing the projector mounts were a challenge. “The way the dome is made, there is only a little space between the bottom of the dome and the stage under the seats. We had to put the projector in this space and precisely angle them” says Giron. As a result, custom-made mounts were created to exactly fit the projectors within the dome.

We thus installed 8 Christie Griffyn 4K32-RGB pure laser projectors along with our software SkyExplorer, to offer breathtaking journeys through the Universe, along with fun and interactive immersive experiences beyond astronomy.

We also installed a streaming system that uses a dedicated image generator and a console, to enable the Infinity Dome theatre team to combine content generated on the dome with live performance recordings, which are then ready to be streamed online or shared with other planetariums.

The Infinity Dome Theater now offers the brightest planetarium experience in North America with its powerful 8K system!

The dome now delivers the brightest on-screen image of any planetarium in North America with 272,000 lumens illuminating the massive screen in 8K resolution! “When you are in the dome and you see eight 34,000 lumen projectors at the same time perfectly calibrated, it’s mind-blowing,” says Giron. “Spark brought in international expert consultants Bill Peters and Ian McLennan. They were impressed with the work we had done.”

Bill Peters says: “The new RSA Cosmos – Konica Minolta /Solotech system in Calgary provides a world-leading combination of brightness, color saturation, and resolution. Audiences are delighted by the clarity and quality of the images”.

“The Infinity Dome theatre refurbishment is a true testament of the knowledge and collaboration between industry-leading companies and individuals,” says Doug Boyer, entertainment account manager, Christie.

With our local partner Solotech, we are delighted to have installed this high-performing digital system in one of Canada’s leading planetariums and dynamic science centres. Many thanks to Spark and the consulting team for this amazing project!

Read more on Christie’s website , on Solotech’s website and visit TELUS Spark Science Centre’s website.