Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Date
2025
Project Type
Science Center
Dome/Screen Size
Extended 18m
Resolution
8K+
Setting a new standard for experiential science learning, Arizona Science Center’s newly transformed Dorrance DOME is the most advanced LED dome of its kind in the Southwest, powered by Cosm’s CX System.
Since opening its doors in 1997, Arizona Science Center has become one of the Southwest’s premier destinations for science learning, innovation, and community engagement. Now, through a transformative partnership with Cosm, the Center is ushering in a new era of immersive education and shared discovery with the unveiling of its Dorrance DOME. Featuring an extended 18-meter, 8K+ LED dome, cutting-edge immersive software, and a robust content ecosystem, the reimagined Dorrance DOME delivers unprecedented visual clarity, brightness, and depth across its 360-degree LED dome display - bringing science, art, and the universe to life in unparalleled realism.
Joining a growing network of CX System LED dome installations around the world as the most advanced LED dome for science, culture, and shared immersive experience – the Dorrance DOME is setting a new standard for what a planetarium can deliver, positioning Arizona Science Center as a global leader in immersive education and public engagement.
For decades, Arizona Science Center has served as a statewide destination for hands-on science education and inspiration, reaching more than 200,000 students annually through field trips and outreach programs.
Amid rising visitor expectations and the rapid evolution of immersive media, Arizona Science Center’s leadership sought a solution that would elevate both the educational and cultural experience in its beloved Dorrance Planetarium - an investment in the state’s STEAM future that would engage learners, educators, and creators alike.
Harnessing Cosm's LED Dome Solution
The Dorrance Planetarium's previous projection system no longer met the standards of an audience accustomed to cinematic realism and interactive storytelling. To remain a leader in STEAM engagement, Arizona Science Center needed an advanced system that could blend education, technology, and creativity into a unified, immersive experience.
Setting out on a bold course to become a global leader in engaging science experiences, Arizona Science Center launched a full-scale transformation project. Following extensive research and planning, Arizona Science Center selected Cosm and its CX System for the renovation of its beloved Dorrance Planetarium – building upon decades of collaboration to usher in a new era of experiential education and community engagement in its transformed Dorrance DOME.
- 18-meter CX System LED Dome - the most advanced in the Southwest, equipped with 9,026 LED panels
- 100x brightness compared to traditional projection domes, using black-panel LED technology to eliminate cross-bounce and enhance contrast
- 8K+ resolution for ultra-high fidelity, lifelike visuals
- Digistar planetarium software - the world’s leading immersive education platform
- Integration with Unreal Engine for real-time, custom content creation
- CX Engine software for interactive storytelling and real-time rendering
- Precision blending & calibration software addressing each individual LED for perfectly seamless imagery
- Flexible, mission-driven, and exclusive immersive programming through Cosm’s Premium Media Program
- Accessible design, with flexible seating for 205 guests, including 200 premium seats and five ADA-compliant spaces designed for flexibility and inclusivity
"Through this flexible technology, Arizona Science Center will be able to provide opportunities for around-the-clock programming that reflects current and changing science. As an early adopter of Cosm’s CX System, we’re positioning ourselves as a global leader in immersive learning for guests of all ages."
Tammy Stewart
Interim Hazel A. Hare President & CEO
Officially opened October 2025, the Dorrance DOME at Arizona Science Center has soared beyond the capabilities of a traditional planetarium, establishing the reimagined space as a statewide hub for STEAM engagement and discovery. By leveraging Cosm’s CX System and the Cosm Studios Premium Media Program, Arizona Science Center has broadened the scope of its programming to encompass science, art, culture, entertainment, and more, delivering experiences that resonate across disciplines and demographics across Arizona and beyond.
Now, guests can experience wonder and imagination in entirely new and unprecedented ways through best-in-class technology that delivers the highest-level resolution, contrast, and brightness that is more than 100x the brightness in most planetarium projection domes, all of which can only be achieved through Cosm’s CX System. With unmatched flexibility and best-in-class visual quality, CX System is empowering Arizona Science Center to:
- Support both informal and formal education through immersive, interactive learning experiences
- Address learning loss amplified by the pandemic, while equipping students with critical skills for Arizona’s fast-growing tech economy
- Offer professional development for educators, building confidence and competence in teaching STEAM through innovative tools and immersive media
- Create new content through partnerships with Arizona State University’s Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center, where students and faculty will develop educational presentations for the dome.
This collaboration also opens new opportunities for student-created content to reach audiences far beyond Phoenix, enhancing professional portfolios for Arizona’s youth and potentially generating licensing opportunities with other cultural institutions.
The Dorrance DOME will host a diverse range of programming, unleashing new experiences across astronomy and space exploration to live presentations, scientific visualizations, and cultural storytelling. By joining Cosm’s Premium Media Program, which provides flexible and affordable access to a handful of immersive films each year, the Dorrance DOME ensures visitors will enjoy fresh, award-winning, and exclusive immersive films from Cosm Studios, including Black Hole First Picture, Orbital, and Inside Pop Art upon its official opening.
By tapping into real-time storytelling, interactive learning, and community-driven content creation, the Dorrance DOME exemplifies how immersive technology and content can connect education, entertainment, and art under one roof.
“Arizona Science Center is thrilled to offer content that captivates all of Arizona within the reimagined Dorrance DOME. Whether someone has a deep passion for science or simply seeks an immersive experience beyond education, we’re excited to make every screening meaningful with high-impact, sensory-driven storytelling that drives engagement and captivates new and returning audiences.”
Alec Warren
Director, Dorrance DOME Experiences & Planetarium.
By merging Cosm’s technological innovation with Arizona Science Center’s mission to inspire, educate, and engage curious minds through science, the project demonstrates how advanced LED technology can expand access to science and transform the way communities experience discovery.
“Dating back to 1997 when Arizona Science Center selected Digistar II to power its planetarium, our work together has always been in the pursuit of creating inspiring and impactful audience experiences,” said Kirk Johnson, Chief Operations Officer at Cosm. “As early adopters of best-in-class immersive technologies, the forward-thinking leaders at Arizona Science Center saw an opportunity to completely reimagine how people learn and connect through shared, immersive experiences. Now, by harnessing CX System, Arizona Science Center has created a dynamic space that will not only inspire Arizona’s next generation of innovators but also positions Arizona Science Center as a long-lasting educational focal point for the state of Arizona and beyond.”
Kirk Johnson
Chief Operations Officer at Cosm
With its unmatched brightness, resolution, and versatility, the Dorrance DOME stands as a beacon for what’s possible when visionary institutions embrace the next generation of immersive technology. Its transformation is an invitation to explore new worlds, new ideas, and new ways of connecting through shared experiences.
Together, Arizona Science Center and Cosm are accelerating a new model for how science, art, and technology can converge to inspire curiosity and ignite innovation for generations to come.
The Dorrance DOME complements Cosm's other landmark LED installation including, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History’s Omni Theater and Prague Planetarium, demonstrating that immersive LED technology is redefining the next generation of planetariums and science centers worldwide.