International Dark Sky

"The world's center for learning about the importance of dark skies and what lies beyond." -The International Dark Sky Discovery Center.

This ambitious project was developed as a non-profit venture with a mission to provide the public with immersive experiences in science, space exploration, and environmental stewardship. This discovery center will include a dark-sky observatory, a stargazing terrace, a planetarium, a theater, a gift shop, and office spaces. The center is positioning itself to be a learning center for all school-aged children as well as at the collegiate level. In alignment with its mission to promote environmental awareness, the project was designed with sustainability at its core. All structural systems utilized engineered wood products, chosen not only for their performance and flexibility but also for their environmental benefits. This commitment to sustainability reflects the center’s dedication to planetary preservation both on Earth and beyond. This project required extensive BIM collaboration among the team, as it involved a variety of bearing conditions, skewed bays, and different truss and joist types.