Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium
| Planétarium Rio Tinto Alcan | |
 |
|
 Location of Rio Tinto Alcan Planeterium in Montreal
|
|
| Established | 6 April 2013 |
|---|---|
| Location | 4801, avenue Pierre-de Coubertin Montreal, Quebec, Canada H1V 3V4 |
| Coordinates | 45°33′39″N 73°33′03″W / 45.5607°N 73.5507°WCoordinates: 45°33′39″N 73°33′03″W / 45.5607°N 73.5507°W |
| Type | Planetarium |
| Owner | Space for Life |
| Public transit access |
 Viau
|
| Nearest car park | 3000 Viau Street |
| Website | espacepourlavie |
The Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium (French: Planétarium Rio Tinto Alcan) is the successor to the Montreal Planetarium, and is located in the Espace pour la Vie, near the Olympic Stadium and the Biodome in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The new installation has two separate theatres as well as exhibits on space and astronomy. It was officially opened in April 2013.
The building, designed by Cardin + Ramirez et Associés, Architectes, is certified as LEED Platinum.
The Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium is the successor to the Montréal Planetarium, formerly known as the Dow Planetarium, which operated from April 1, 1966 to October 10, 2011. It was inaugurated by Montréal mayor Jean Drapeau.
The Dow Planetarium was sponsored by Dow Breweries, which later became O'Keefe Breweries, now a part of Molson Breweries. Important in the brewery's decision to found a planetarium was Pierre Gendron, a past professor of chemistry and amateur astronomer who was the founding dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Ottawa. Gendron was also president of the board of directors of Dow Breweries. It was Gendron's influence that led to Dow's decision to endow Montréal with a planetarium in time for Expo 67.
The planetarium was constructed at Chaboillez Square, a former parking lot outside downtown Montréal. It was designed by the architectural firm of David-Barott-Boulva and constructed at a cost of $1.2 million. The building and projection equipment were completed in February 1966, and the inaugural show, New Skies for a New City, premiered on April 4, 1966.
Between 1966 and 2011, some six million spectators attended over 250 original productions created by the planetarium. Some 50 lecturers and educators presented more than 58,000 shows in the Star Theatre.
The Montréal Planetarium ceased its public activities on October 10, 2011.
The new planetarium is part of the Space for Life (French: Éspace pour la vie) museum complex, a cluster of museums focusing on nature. Sustainable development is a focus for the Space for Life, as reflected in the planetarium's architecture and its status as a LEED Platinum certified building. Constructed of aluminum and concrete, the building contains an exhibition area and two dome theatres named "Chaos" and "Milky Way". Artistic direction was by Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon.
...
Wikipedia