The Astronomy and Physical Sciences Center includes a 100-seat Planetarium/auditorium, an accessible roof deck for celestial observation, a physical sciences laboratory, a lecture hall, and Connecticut’s largest public viewing research telescope, the 22-inch Gregory Maksutov.
The center's interior is designed to maximize collaborative interactions and provide flexibility. The planetarium, lecture hall, and laboratory are visually connected to the entrance hall. The telescope will give real-time feedback to monitors in the entrance hall and lecture hall for wintertime exploration. Rotating wall panels allow the planetarium to open to the entrance hall, which opens to the lecture hall, creating one large space for multidisciplinary events. The planetarium is flat-floored to accommodate multiple uses with a tilted dome for viewing comfort. Respectful of its location on a working farm museum, the 40-foot-diameter planetarium dome is nestled within a barn-shaped structure. The telescope is within an attached silo.
SM+NC’s primary function is education for all ages. Physical Science offerings will be expanded into a hands-on “learning lab” encompassing school programs, summer camp opportunities, public programs, adult enrichment, and family programs. The Astronomy & Physical Science Center is the second phase of the master plan TSKP STUDIO developed for SM+NC. The facility will be a powerful cultural tourism asset for the State and City of Stamford, enabling the museum to become a distinguished regional leader in science education.