What began eight years ago as a humble building costing only $3 million, has developed into a facility that will include exhibition spaces, an 80-seat planetarium and conference facilities.

President of the Orange Planetarium Inc, Rod Somerville said the idea of the centre just evolved.

“We had an independent study done on the original concept and from the work that they did we soon realised that we had an opportunity to expand on that idea,” he said.

The final concept is a futuristic design that will be nestled between the botanic gardens and the adventure playground in what is now a council work compound.

“It is an innovative design,” Orange Planetarium Inc. vice president Nat Burgio said.

“It is an icon for the town and able to be used by everyone.”

Designed by University of Technology Sydney, School of Architecture students and staff, in collaboration with Offshore Studios, the centre boasts environmental features unseen in many community buildings and a futuristic design befitting its purpose.

Part of the roof will be covered with grass, the building will be warmed using solar and geothermal heating and its low profile includes a sliding glass roof above the viewing deck.

Mr Somerville said the building had multiple uses for the community.

“It is now a versatile, multifunctional science facility that will host functions, workshops and school groups,” he said.

The technology within the planetarium will be the same that is used by the Smithsonian Institute and the Museum of Natural History in Washington, making the centre the most advanced of its kind in NSW.

“The only other planetariums in Australia that have this kind of technology are in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth,” Mr Burgio said.

Southern Skies Earth and Space Centre supporter, councillor Chris Gryllis said the tourist potential for the centre was immense.

“Dubbo has the zoo, Bathurst has Mt Panorama, hopefully soon we will have this excellent facility to complement our other natural attractions,” he said.

Funding submissions for the centre are being prepared by Orange Planetarium and Nat Burgio is confident their applications will be successful.

“We tick all the boxes for funding under the National Infrastructure Fund as a community facility,” he said.

“And then we will also be looking for funding from the state government, Orange City Council and other supplementary sources.”

For those interested in learning more about the centre, a presentation and lecture will be held tonight in lecture theatre 3 at CSU at 6pm.

H Walkthrough the Southern Skies Earth and Space Centre on our website. www.centralwesterndaily.com.au.