Museum of Science & History

	Museum of Science and History - Planetarium

"Probably the finest of its kind in the world."

"The most outstanding feature is the sound system."

"You can actually feel the shuttle take off."

Visitors and staff alike proclaim the long-awaited renovation and additional construction at Jacksonville's Museum of Science and History a stunning success. It was a unique project. And an unparalleled opportunity for Florida Sound Engineering to display some of its sharpest skills. The 37,000-square-foot, $6.8 million addition included the $1 million, 60-foot domed Alexander Brest Planetarium. FSEC designed, constructed, and installed the JBL system, which features 24 subwoofers at seat level, plus six custom cabinets behind the planetarium, with 11 speakers in each one. The computer-controlled system automatically mixes the music and special effects, delivering over 19,000 watts of power.

In addition to the planetarium, FSEC provided acoustical and sound system CAD for the IWERKS Theater, a smaller domed room featuring an exclusive 70mm film system. The special films are projected onto the domed ceiling, giving the viewer the uncanny feeling of being right in the middle of the action.

For all its technical design and work, the real test of whether the project was successful is summed up in the words of a six-year-old boy after experiencing the shuttle lift-off: "I thought the pilot did a good job of taking off and landing us. Can we fly it again?"