Team :

Farmer Payne Architects + GALCZYNSKI

Project Role :

Project Co-Founder, Lead Designer, Construction Documents, Project Manager, & Interior Design.

Location :

Jackson, WY

Completion  :

June 1st, 2024

Program :

Astronomy Observatory & Planetarium (4,500 sq ft)

Environmental Integrity :

- Astronomy Interpretation strengthens community respect and understanding of the natural world.

- Staggered stud assembly to as Thermal Break and Acoustic Retention.

- White Roof Membrane minimizes solar absorption and decreases A/C usage.

- Selecting Interior Finishes with Environmental Policies.

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Concept : Snow King Observatory and Planetarium was designed to elevate the often disregarded observatory aesthetic. in an effort to better promote public astronomy outreach. The Entry sequence hides the main doors and frames the (night) sky through an outdoor stairwell. A vertical language is present throughout the building design to celebrate the vertical world above our heads.

History

The Snow King Observatory was conceived in 2014 by astronomer Dr. Samuel Singer. Dr. Singer met Jakub Galczynski at a Silicon Couloir meeting in Jackson, WY. Sharing a mutual fascination for nature observation and environmental initiative, the two collaborated on an astronomy observatory design that was presented to local investors.

Max C Chapman Jr, CEO of Snow King Mountain Resort, approached Dr. Singer to integrate the observatory into the resort’s future Master Plan. Chapman’s personal interest and program decisions resulted in the direct success of Snow King Observatory.

The 2015 Observatory design was roughly 1,000 square feet. After the Town of Jackson approved Snow King’s Master Plan in 2021, the building expanded to include a stargazing rooftop and planetarium. The items where proposed by Dr. Singer to promote day time visitation and address cloudy skies. Galczynski had relocated to Ketchum, ID to work with Farmer Payne Architects. He transitioned to an independent role to lead the project development in continued research, design, and construction documents.

After nearly a century of efforts, Snow King Observatory and Planetarium opened on June 1, 2024. The grand opening featured a keynote address by renowned science communicator Bill Nye, “The Science Guy.”

Image Below : 2015 Proposal for Snow King Observatory.

Complete Project Credit

Founder : Samuel Singer, Wyoming Stargazing

Co-Founder / Design Lead: Jakub Galczynski, GALCZYNSKI

General Manager : Ryan Stanley – Snow King Mountain Resort

Construction Manager : Jeff Golightly – Snow King Mountain Resort

Executive Architect : Jamie Farmer AIA, Farmer Payne Architects

General Contractor, Superintendent : Chris Lamorena – Ormond Builders

Structural Engineer : Jeffrey Hobson PE, Tectonic Design

Telescope Systems : 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

GALCZYNSKI, LLC ©

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