The TELUS Spark Science Centre (Spark) in Calgary, Alberta, entertains and inspires hundreds of thousands of people every year, through creative encounters with science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts.

After providing guests with over ten years of incredible science experiences, Spark’s Infinity Dome theater – one of the largest planetarium-slash-movie domes in western Canada – was ready for a technological upgrade in 2021

Solotech was happy to contribute to this project as the Canadian partner to global leader in digital planetariums RSA Cosmos – Konica Minolta.

“Spark’s goal was to renovate the digital system of its Infinity Dome theatre with high-performing technologies to have a state-of-the-art planetarium capable of offering exceptional renderings and journeys through the Universe to the audience,” said Bahar Gumus, Sales Manager at RSA Cosmos. “The Spark team was therefore looking for powerful planetarium software along with a high-quality digital projection system to deliver the most stunning images in real-time with the highest levels of brightness,”

Solotech in partnership with RSA Cosmos – Konica Minolta specified and installed the new projection system, along with RSA Cosmos – Konica Minolta’s planetarium software, SkyExplorer.

“The client had precise technical specifications, including the brightness, resolution, and contrast of the system, and the capacity to display both IMAX and other giant-screen movies and the planetarium navigation system,” said Philippe Giron, Account Manager at Solotech.

Solotech organized an on-site test run of different projector models so the client would be sure to make the right decision. The client was impressed by the Christie Griffyn 4K32-RGB projector, which was the only one to meet all the requirements.

It took two weeks for the on-site team, led by project manager Ghislain Veronneau, projection specialist Jérémie Couturier, and planetarium expert consultant Sebastien Gauthier, to perfectly install and calibrate the projection system to complete the first full planetarium integration in Solotech’s history.

Thanks to the eight Christie Griffyn 4K32-RGB projectors, the Infinity Dome now offers the brightest planetarium experience in North America!

“When you see eight 34,000 lumen projectors perfectly calibrated, it’s mind-blowing,” said Philippe Giron, satisfyingly. “The client brought in international expert consultants Bill Peters and Ian McLennan. They were impressed with the work we had done.”

According to Peters, “The new RSA Cosmos – Konica Minolta/Solotech system in Calgary provides a world-leading combination of brightness, color saturation, and resolution. Audiences are delighted by the clarity and quality of the images.”