Buckstaff Planetarium

Name

Namesake: Ralph Buckstaff

Buckstaff was the one-time president of the Buckstaff Company, a local furniture manufacturer, and an amateur astronomer, meteorologist and citizen scientist.  Buckstaff deeded a partial ownership of his observatory to the University in 1959 and his support for astronomy education at the University inspired the Board of Regents to name the planetarium after him in October 1963.   

Facts

Completion Date: 1964

Renovation Date: 1980

Original Purpose of Building: Planetarium

Current Use: Closed in 2014 due to safety issues.  Storage

History

When it was built in 1963-64 as part of the first part of the Halsey Science Center, the Buckstaff Planetarium was one of several in development or built in the public universities or two-year centers in Wisconsin.   The inclusion of the planetarium was not originally part of the early science building project planning, but was later introduced as early as September 1960 in a meeting with the architect.  The building was designed by the Oshkosh-based architectural firm of Sandstedt, Knoop and Yarbro and constructed by Ben B. Ganther Company with concrete work done by Badger Concrete. The project's completion was delayed due to some unique aspects of the roof and labor actions at Badger Concrete causing the Planetarium to be the last portion of the original three buildings of the first phase of the Halsey Science Center.  After it opened, the facility was used for both classroom instruction as well as public programming. 

Originally two planetarium mechanisms were considered, a Goto S-3 and a Spitz A3.  Ultimately the school was purchased a Spitz Model A3-P, an upgrade.  The projectors required a hanging, perforated aluminum projection dome that was installed by the contractors under the supervision of a Spitz authorized representative.  The projection unit and its mounting cabinet was upgraded in 1980 along with a change of seating from standard classroom chairs to recliners.  

In 2014, the facility was closed due to safety and ADA issues.  Repairs and upgrades were put on hold in 2018 due to University financial issues.