Facing $10M+ repair bill, EKU will instead demolish Hummel Planetarium
Eastern Kentucky University plans to demolish the Hummel Planetarium and create an “immersive experience laboratory” for K-12 and college students, the school announced Thursday.
The planetarium, built in 1976, has been closed to the public since 2019. After the COVID pandemic, the university announced the facility would remain closed temporarily. The building was in need of repairs and major technology updates, which contributed to the ongoing closure, EKU officials told the Herald-Leader in 2023.
But it never reopened.
“For nearly four decades, Hummel Planetarium inspired generations of learners and we are grateful for the role it has played in our university and region,” EKU President David McFaddin said. “Now we have the opportunity to build on that legacy. By creating a modern, immersive learning environment, we are expanding access for our students, strengthening partnerships with K-12 schools and positioning EKU at the forefront of innovative, experiential education.”
It would cost millions to repair and reopen the “failing Hummel Planetarium,” EKU said in a news release. A full restoration of the building and dome would cost $11.2 million, and a full restoration and painting of the dome would cost $10.7 million.
Repairs to the building alone, while leaving the planetarium unusable for programming, would cost $2 million, EKU said.
Multiple options for the planetarium were reviewed by EKU Board of Regents, which ultimately voted to surplus and demolish it, according to officials.
EKU will open a learning laboratory in the Black Box Theater at the EKU Center for the Arts, which will be used for “science, art, health, engineering and interdisciplinary learning” for college students, K-12 partners and the community. The plan is estimated to cost $200,000.
“By investing in the existing infrastructure of the EKU Center for the Arts, the university can create even more programming opportunities than what a fully renovated planetarium will provide,” faculty regent Lynnette Noblitt said. “By utilizing the Center for the Arts, we can go beyond visual immersion to incorporate sound, touch and other multisensory elements that create a truly dynamic learning environment for students.”
Kentucky is home to several planetariums, many of them located on university campuses. The Hummel Planetarium, one of the largest planetariums in the region, had seating for 164 people, according to EKU’s website.
The Gheens Science Hall & Rauch Planetarium at the University of Louisville has also been closed for several years. With seating for 160 people, it never reopened following the pandemic. That space faced similar challenges as the planetarium at EKU, including outdated equipment needing significant funding for repairs, Louisville Public Media previously reported.
The Hardin Planetarium at Western Kentucky University seats 120 people, and Haile Planetarium at Northern Kentucky University seats 61. Both are open and hosting shows for the public, according to their websites.
Berea College also has a planetarium, with programming open to the public.
This story was originally published February 27, 2026 at 10:06 AM.