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Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Space Shuttle Atlantis

Cape Canaveral, Florida

Client: Delaware North Parks & Resorts / NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
Architect: PGAV Destinations
Completion: 2013
LEED Silver®

Space Shuttle Atlantis is a 90,000 square foot exhibit dedicated to retelling the epic 30-year story of NASA’s Space Shuttle Program and features the Atlantis: one of three remaining space-flown orbiters, and the last to fly in space. The $100 million exhibit is organized around the big reveal of Shuttle Atlantis, with a series of interactive attractions and multimedia presentations to guide guests and share the iconic history of the space shuttle program.

A final 10-second countdown signals the reveal of Atlantis in full flight mode—suspended 30 feet in the air and tilted 43.21 degrees to the port side—with an HD video backdrop of land, ocean, aurora and orbital sunrises to create the illusion of flying around Earth. The lighting is programmed to respond to the orbiter’s flight path and uses theatrical lighting techniques with saturated color and movement to enhance the willful suspension of disbelief as Atlantis is revealed. Over 60 exhibits surround the orbiter, each utilizing finely-tuned theatrical spotlights to illuminate graphic displays while limiting light trespass and glare on surrounding exhibits and digital media.

Groundbreaking on the facility occurred in January 2012, and the exhibit was unveiled on June 29, 2013.

  • 2014 IES Illumination Award of Merit