University Electric Enters New Galaxy with YSU Planetarium Project

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Celestial views are returning to the Ward Beecher Planetarium at Youngstown State University. 

Renovations wrapped up following a fire that severely damaged the building’s roof in January 2023.

University Electric quickly realized that it was going to be a challenging and unique project.

“There was so much water and smoke damage. Everything was ruined. The dome of the planetarium was ruined,” said Nick Patterson, University Electric project manager. “We had some demolition work, at first, to remove the old dome and structures. Then, it was like starting over again.”

Not Your Standard Job Site

Once the roof and ceiling were repaired, the remodeling inside the planetarium began. Patterson recalled the special working conditions.

“There are high ceilings, and setting up temporary lighting was a challenge. Typically, a planetarium like this is a dome within a dome-shaped building. YSU’s is not like that. It’s an older building with different shapes, so it’s more difficult to work around.”

Temporary lighting was put up around the perimeter of the planetarium so that the crew installing the new dome could access lighting wherever they needed it.

“We didn’t have a lot of the traditional structures of regular walls, so it was interesting,” Patterson said.

Delicate Dome Dealings

University Electric also had to give the dome installers space to work. Electricians faced a three-month period where they weren’t allowed inside until that portion of the project was complete.

“Once the dome was in, we ran power at the base for all the planetarium light effects. The base is 9 feet in the air. All the work was done around the edge,” Patterson said.

Patterson said another challenge was making sure all the wires were placed correctly so they didn’t cast any shadows on the dome.

“Everything is painted matte black, and it was the same for the conduit. It had to be as invisible as it could get.”  

The dome’s lighting systems will allow for an enhanced viewing experience. It’s also made specifically for showing video.

“The lights can be changed to any color and have different settings. They can be controlled through Bluetooth and an app, too.”

Keeping Light in the Dark

The planetarium has theater-style seating. For safety reasons, the steps must be lit, even when it’s dark for presentations.

University Electric was able to purchase special lighting that doesn’t interfere with the experience of a show  but allows people to see the steps. It wasn’t an easy task.

“After six calls to suppliers, we found the red, LED, dimmable lighting that the engineers were looking for. It’s safe and code compliant,” Patterson said.

He said other electrical updates were also needed. Power was run from existing panels, but the wiring was all new.

“We removed a considerable amount of unlabeled, legacy systems that had to be corrected for coding reasons,” he said.

Planetarium engineer Curt Spivey is satisfied with the outcome.

“Nick and his team went above and beyond to find lighting solutions that work for such a unique space,” Spivey said.

Constant Professional Approach

Patterson stressed there were many adjustments to the project from start to finish.

“Everything was a running change all the time. It was different than most of the jobs we do,” he said.

He said it took everyone working together and having open communication to get things done with the proper specifications.

“From the beginning, there were weekly meetings. They lasted about two hours and were very much necessary,” he said.

Patterson remained focused on professionalism during the project. He realized what it means to the community.

“This was a high-profile, visible job. It’s a high point of the university, and a lot of eyes were on our work the whole time.”

The grand reopening of the Ward Beecher Planetarium is set for the first weekend in October. All shows are free and open to the public.

University Electric is a member contractor of NECA-IBEW Electricians, an association consisting of IBEW Local 64 in Youngstown, IBEW Local 573 in Warren and signatory electrical contractors throughout the Mahoning Valley.

CREDIT: NECA-IBEW.

Pictured at top: The dome has various light settings and shows video. Red, dimmable lighting for the steps provides a safe environment for visitors without interrupting the viewing experience. (University Electric)

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.