CLIENT: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
STAKEHOLDERS: DESIGNER: Brian C. Seckfort
MUSEUM PRESIDENT/CEO: Tracey Tomme
VENUE (Name, City/State): The Caryl D. Philips Space Theater
The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
Dayton, Ohio
YEAR: 2025
Creating a Distinctive Entrance for a Museum Planetarium
Scenic Solutions partnered with the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery to fabricate and install a custom entrance feature for the Caryl D. Philips Space Theater in Dayton, Ohio. Designed to improve the visibility and presence of the planetarium entrance, the installation enhances the visitor experience while complementing the museum’s existing visual aesthetic and surrounding prehistoric exhibits.
Custom Fabrication for a High-Impact Museum Entrance
Architectural Fabrication and Scenic Elements
The project brought together Scenic Solutions’ metal fabrication, woodworking, and paint departments to create a cohesive entrance feature that frames the existing planetarium doors.
- Fabricated concentric metal rings mounted directly to the museum wall.
- Built a custom wooden header and matching pillars that frame the existing entrance.
- Produced and installed an enlarged starfield graphic above the entrance to reinforce the planetarium’s identity.
Precision Finishing and Integrated Lighting
Every element of the installation was fabricated and finished to create a polished, durable presentation suitable for a high-traffic museum environment.
- Spray-painted the fabricated metal components in Scenic Solutions’ car-sized spray booth.
- Customized and installed flexible LED strip lighting within the wooden header and pillars to highlight the entrance feature.
- Carefully coordinated fabrication, finishing, and installation to maintain a consistent visual appearance throughout the project.
Museum Graphics and Careful Installation
Large-Format NASA Starfield Installation
A prominent feature of the installation is the custom starfield graphic positioned above the entrance.
- Produced from NASA’s public-use imagery collection.
- Printed on high-performance vinyl.
- Installed in multiple vertical sections to create one continuous image.
- Carefully applied to eliminate bubbles, wrinkles, and visible seams between panels.
Protecting the Existing Museum Environment
Because the work was completed within an active museum setting surrounded by existing exhibits, the installation team took additional precautions throughout the project.
- Protected the surrounding exhibits during installation.
- Completed the work while preserving the museum environment and adjacent displays.
Enhancing the Visitor Experience Through Exhibit Fabrication
The completed entrance provides visitors with a clearly defined visual gateway to the planetarium while remaining consistent with the Boonshoft Museum’s overall design aesthetic. By combining custom metal fabrication, architectural woodworking, integrated lighting, and large-format exhibit graphics, Scenic Solutions delivered an entrance feature that improves both wayfinding and the overall presentation of the space.
Scenic Solutions: Museum Exhibit Fabrication and Custom Display Solutions
Scenic Solutions creates custom fabricated environments for museums, exhibits, and public attractions through precision craftsmanship and integrated fabrication services. This project demonstrates our ability to combine metal fabrication, woodworking, custom graphics, lighting integration, and careful on-site installation to create durable exhibit features that enhance both functionality and visitor engagement.