Name of the Project
Wits Anglo American Digital Dome.

Location
Johannesburg, in Gauteng, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and Anglo American.

Project Description
The project entails the refurbishment, expan¬sion and digitalisation of the 62-year-old Johannesburg Planetarium into a new, future-savvy, multidisciplinary research, training and science engagement events hub.

The project will be completed in three phases.

Phase 1 involves the existing planetarium, which will be refurbished and digitalised with a state-of-the-art digital projection system, auditorium seating and a Science and Technology Exploratorium.

In the second phase, the north wing will be expanded to include a new suite of operational offices and an exhibition area, as well as a seminar room and meeting space for the Digital Dome show planning and design.

In Phase 3, a new east wing research-focused building will house open-plan office space for visiting multidisciplinary research teams to interface with in-house data visualisation and Digital Dome show rendering experts.

It will include a creative studio, and film and sound production facilities, to enable Wits to develop much of its science engagement digital content on site. This stage will be integrated with the Wits Football Stadium, and will include a media viewing deck and rooftop event space.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
R90-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Stage 1 and 2 of the project is scheduled for completion in 2023 and to open to the public in 2024.

Latest Developments
The old Johannesburg Planetarium has been relaunched as the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome, after major refurbishments.

Wits has noted that the new Digital Dome is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere and offers a 360° immersive experience for visitors of all ages, with a variety of shows.

“It will also serve as a modern teaching venue and a collaborative research space where scientists and students can visualise their work – be it in Big Data, astrophysics, the digital arts, artificial medicine, microbiology or precision medicine,” Wits said in a media statement on November 13.

Wits vice-chancellor and principal Professor Zeblon Vilakazi has described the planetarium as a multidisciplinary space that integrates elements from areas such as the humanities, arts, science, technology and mathematics.

The refurbished facility includes the new digital projection, sound systems and auditorium seating.

The original Zeiss projector has been replaced with ten new digital projectors to render an 8K full-dome resolution. Each projector has its own image generator, which is controlled by a master computer.

The sound has also been upgraded to an 8.2 audio system.

The Wits Anglo American Digital Dome will enter a pilot phase from November to the end of January 2025 and is expected to open its doors to the public in February 2025.

The first shows to be viewed include a set of six full dome shows, donated by the American Museum of National History.

Wits and Anglo American will make funds available to provide access for learners from selected quintile one to three schools to attend shows at no cost during 2025.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Wits senior communications officer Schalk Mouton, tel +27 11 717 1017 or email Schalk.mouton@wits.ac.za.