Henry Crown Space Center Museum of Science and Industry
Chicago, IllinoisIn this project, HGA designed an exhibit and OMNIMAX theater addition. The Space Center is located in a separate 35,000 SF limestone building on the east side of the Museum near the trains and the U-505 submarine on display outdoors. An enclosed walkway connects the center with the Museum. The Space Center has two main parts: 10,000 SF hall for space artifacts and exhibits, and an OMNIMAX theater. There is also a rocket exhibit area outdoors. The 334-seat OMNIMAX theater envelops the viewers' entire field of vision and draws them up into the scene of an erupting volcano, or into the far reaches of space. The image is projected from 70mm film through a fisheye lens onto a 7,300 SF hemispherical screen. A twelve channel computer-operated audio system coupled with twelve clusters of speakers throws the sound across the 76-foot diameter space with incredible clarity and power. The rolling loop film projector provides pin-registered steadiness and unparalleled focus stability which further enhances the realism of the picture. The theater features other computer-controlled equipment such as slide and special effects projectors.