Florida Southern College has reopened its Frank Lloyd Wright-designed planetarium in Lakeland, Florida, returning the domed space to active educational and public use for the first time in more than two decades. The projection system had stopped functioning in 2004, and the room saw only limited use until restoration began.
The final phase of the work, supported by State of Florida funding, installed a new COSM digital dome projection system and a Bowen sound system, so the restored circular auditorium can again work as a modern planetarium. Visitors take their seats in the original room, with its restored red interior, beneath a sky projected across the dome. Located in the Polk Science Building, it is the only planetarium built from a Wright design.
Programming and visitors
Public shows began on Saturday 26 September 2026 and run on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 3:30 p.m. Six programs rotate monthly, covering topics including the solar system, Mars exploration, exoplanets and humanity's understanding of the universe. The planetarium also supports Florida Southern students and faculty and offers visits for school field trips, community organizations and other groups.
Visit format
- Each program runs approximately 20 to 32 minutes, according to the college's reopening release.
- The full visit lasts approximately 60 to 90 minutes, including an introduction to the history and significance of the Wright-designed space before the featured show.
