Barco powers dome theater upgrade at Shenyang Science Centrum

Shenyang Science Centrum has recently completed an upgrade of its dome theater projection system, replacing its previous single-projector and fisheye lens setup with a Barco UDM Series solution. As one of the largest modern science education centers in Northeast China, with a total floor area of 40,000 square meters, Shenyang Science Centrum features a dome cinema as one of its key attractions. Using Barco’s advanced visualization technology, the upgraded theater delivers a more immersive and engaging journey into the world of science.

To further enhance visual impact and immersion within the exhibition venue while meeting the demands of modern science exhibits and ensuring long-term operational reliability, Shenyang Science Centrum upgraded its dome theater with Barco UDM-4K22 projectors. Replacing the previous system, the new installation leverages the platform’s exceptional stability and bright, vivid 8K image performance to bring scenes to life with remarkable clarity and realism. From the vastness of outer space and star-filled skies to deep-sea ecosystems and microscopic worlds, the system delivers a high-quality visual experience that inspires audiences to explore the wonders of science.

As a retrofit project, the new projection system had to be installed discreetly without altering the existing building structure or compromising the venue’s aesthetics. The project team also needed to ensure that neither audience sightlines nor projection paths were obstructed.

Following detailed engineering calculations, the Barco team implemented a two-tier "4+2" projector configuration. Four UDM-4K22 projectors were installed on the first level, each projecting an image approximately 21 × 13 meters in size at a throw distance of 23 meters, with an 18% horizontal blend zone and approximately 80 lux of screen illumination. Two additional UDM-4K22 projectors were installed on the second level to complete coverage of the upper dome. Each projector delivers an image approximately 20 × 12.5 meters in size from a throw distance of 20 meters, also with an 18% horizontal blend zone and approximately 85 lux of screen illumination.

The upgraded system uses six Barco UDM-4K22 projectors equipped with motorized wide-angle lenses to create a seamlessly blended image across the dome screen, which measures 23 meters in diameter and covers approximately 742 square meters. The installation delivers 8K resolution and a combined light output of 132,000 lumens. In a fully darkened theater environment, the system achieves a contrast ratio exceeding 40:1, providing image quality that meets cinema standards.

The media server supports lossless, uncompressed 4K 60 fps playback and is compatible with both 3D content and real-time 8K capture workflows. This ensures smooth playback across the entire dome while maintaining high contrast, excellent black-level performance, and sharp image edges. Whether showcasing expansive star fields across the universe or revealing the intricate details of oceans and microscopic ecosystems, the system reproduces content with exceptional fidelity and realism across the entire dome surface, creating a truly immersive visual experience for visitors.

For complex dome theater applications, the Barco projection solution offers distinct advantages, including support for real-time 8K capture, a compact and lightweight projector design, wide color gamut reproduction, and proven image-blending capabilities.

The successful deployment at Shenyang Science Centrum once again demonstrates the technological excellence and proven reliability of Barco projection solutions.