PGAV Destinations, a global leader in the planning and design of unique destinations, has announced it will be working on a major project with the International Dark Sky Discovery Centre (IDSDC).
The facility plans to be a first-of-its-kind international focus point for discovering the importance of dark skies and learning what lies beyond.
Working with PGAV Destinations, the partnership will help create a 15,000 square foot multi-functional facility providing state-of-the-art science-based education in Arizona, US.
Whilst serving as a unique tourism destination for the state and beyond, the site will be designed to provide valuable research opportunities with a 27.5-inch telescope for public viewing, broadcasts and astrophotography.
Latest technology
Operating as a non-profit, the IDSDC will have four major components including a Hyperspace Planetarium, an interactive and experiential learning zone with a 32-foot diameter tilted projection dome.
The landmark feature will be the Dark Sky Observatory, a key focal point that will be home to the largest telescope in the greater Phoenix area.
Completing the line-up are the Inspiration Theater, which will feature various professional productions using the latest 8K projection technology, and the Immersion Zone, an exhibition hall with a focus on dark skies. There will also be an on-site classroom, gift and coffee shop for visitors.
PGAV Destinations’ planning process will include designing interactions, processes, and strategies to support experiences for the concept of connecting life on earth to the night sky.
IDSDC will be taken through analysis and understanding the client and visitor’s needs, as well as product and experience development, to implementing the overall experience.
PGAV will also plan and design assets including exhibits, graphics, media, and themed elements to define the guest experience and enhance architectural planning for the IDSDC.
Critical for sustainability
Tom Owen, PGAV Destinations’ vice president and project leader says “I never realized the importance of dark skies for human health and animal wellbeing.
“The International Dark Sky Discovery Center will help people like me make informed choices about effective lighting—how it uses less energy, provides safer communities, protects ecosystems, and creates a future where my children and grandchildren will look up and see their own starry night.”
Joe Bill, president of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center adds:
“We are fortunate to be working with PGAV Destinations, an organization with the proven ability to create unique, memorable, and educational visitor experiences, which is critical for sustainability and growth,”
Last month, PGAV Destinations announced that it had been commissioned to work on a master plan for City Museum, St Louis.
