The University of Notre Dame’s Digital Visualization Theater (DVT) inside Jordan Hall of Science will close Monday, April 7 for renovations that will be completed before the Fall 2025 semester begins.
The DVT is the College of Science’s fulldome theater and planetarium, which is available for all courses across campus — not just in astronomy and physics — as well as public presentations to groups across the South Bend area.
In operation since 2006, the DVT had state-of-the art technology when it first opened. Over time, certain portions of the facility could no longer be repaired or replaced without a complete renovation, said Keith Davis, director of the DVT.
The renovations, with funding secured from a donor, will include the projection system, computing resources, software, display and sound system. The work is being completed by the planetarium company Evans and Sutherland, a Cosm Company, and the facility will reopen at the end of the summer.
“After completion, the Notre Dame Digital Visualization Theater will be state-of-the-art again, and will provide the community with a system that matches those of major national planetariums and museum theaters,” Davis said.
The renovated theater will boast the latest in live presentation software available to the international planetarium community, with improvements providing a live-rendered 3D environment along with additional astronomy content.
“The college is making a commitment to public science engagement, and replacing the new system will keep it functional for current programs along with additional programming that we are planning,” Davis said.
Professors using the DVT in classes or Notre Dame programs should contact Davis at Keith.Davis.DVT@nd.edu with questions. Faculty not already using the facility for classes are also encouraged to contact him, because new capabilities will broaden the applications for courses, Davis said.
Originally published by at science.nd.edu on March 26, 2025.