Project History
The Jackson WY Observatory was envisioned by Astronomer Dr. Samuel Singer in 2014. Dr. Singer met Jakub Galczynski in 2015 at a Silicon Couloir meeting in Jackson, WY. The two would design and draft a conceptual observatory to pitch to various hospitality groups. Max Chapman approached Singer to develop an observatory for Brooks Lake Lodge. Due to site-specific complications, that project was abandoned. As CEO of Snow King Mountain, Max’s focus turned to the summit of the mountain and its future Master Plan.
In 2015, Samuel Singer and Jakub Galczynski were hired to further research and design Snow King Observatory. In 2021, the Town of Jackson finally approved Snow King’s Master Plan, which included the Snow King Observatory. At the time of approval, Jakub Galczynski had already moved to Ketchum, ID to work for Farmer Payne Architects. After bringing Snow King Observatory to the office, Jakub split off from the team. He would instead develop the construction documents from his home office in partnership with Jamie Farmer AIA, Farmer Payne Architects. Jakub’s role and responsibilities are as follows: Design Lead, Construction Documents, Project Manager, and all aspects of Interior Design. After a near century-long endeavor, Snow King Observatory publicly opened on June 1st, 2024. The event included attendance and a speech by the renowned Science Communicator Bill Nye ‘Science Guy’.
Image Shown : Samuel Singer (Left), Jakub Galczynski, Max Chapman (Right) on May 31, 2024
Complete Project Credit
General Manager : Ryan Stanley – Snow King Mountain Resort
Construction Manager : Jeff Golightly – Snow King Mountain Resort
Design Lead & Co-Founder : Jakub Galczynski, GALCZYNSKI
Astronomy Consultant & Co-Founder : Samuel Singer, Wyoming Stargazing
Architect : Jamie Farmer AIA, Farmer Payne Architects
General Contractor, Superintendent : Chris Lamorena – Ormond Builders
Structural Engineer : Jeffrey Hobson PE, Tectonic Design
Dome & Telescope Design Consultant : Paul Gardner – Observatory Systems
MEP : Joe Serre PE, Charlie Joy PE, Sami Sanderson EIT, Katie Sanderson EIT – Energy1
Civil Engineer : Dave Dufault PE – Nelson Engineering
Telescope : Cameron Vittiglio and Josh Person – Planewave Telescope
Dome : Ash Dome
Planetarium : Design Engineer Chris Wright – SPITZ
Seating Design : Shannon Jeffries – Sedia Systems
Acoustics : Nate Meyer and Jazlyn Ibarra – Akouo Acoustics
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