A significant Florida preservation project returns a rare Wright-designed campus building to active public and educational use, giving the story immediate regional relevance and a clear adaptive-reuse angle.
Polk Science Building, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida, United States
About this story
Florida Southern College announced the reopening of its restored Planetarium, a structure designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and located within the Polk Science Building. The college describes it as the only planetarium constructed from a Wright design and one of 13 Wright-designed structures on its campus. The restoration includes new technology and is intended to support regularly scheduled public shows as well as school and community-group visits. The college says the return to use follows more than two decades without active educational and public programming. The design and construction credits, scope of conservation work, and restoration photography credits should be confirmed with the college before publication.
Status and timeline
The college announced September 23, 2026 that restoration was complete and the Planetarium would reopen to the public that month. It is returning to educational and public use after more than two decades.
Design highlights
Preservation and renewed public use of a Wright-designed campus structure, with contemporary planetarium technology integrated into the restored space.
