By AZRE
The International Dark Sky Discovery Center (IDSDC) broke ground on its new observatory in Fountain Hills, in sync with the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. The new observatory, located at 13001 N. La Montana Drive, was designed by SWABACK Architects + Planners and is being built by McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.
The $25 million, 23,000-square-foot facility will encompass a 27.5-inch PlaneWave telescope, housed within its 20.5-foot domed observatory, along with a state-of-the-art, 65-seat planetarium. The center will also include a multipurpose auditorium with capacity for 150 guests, and a “Night Sky Experience” exhibit space equipped with interactive educational and historical components.
