糖心Vlog传媒

In 2025, work began to renovate and revitalize the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Planetarium that had been closed for nearly 20 years. This work will restore a longtime campus landmark and expand access to immersive science education for students and the broader Little Rock community. 

$1.2 Million Gift to Restore Planetarium

In 2026, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock received a $1.2 million gift from Leslye and Ray Shellam to restore the planetarium. The gift honors Leslye’s late father, Arkansas business leader L. Dickson Flake, and and her late mother, Linda Blaine Flake, and will name the facility the Shellam Flake Planetarium. 鈥淭he planetarium has long been a special place on campus, and I wanted to help bring it back for today鈥檚 students and families,鈥� Shellam said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 meaningful to be able to restore a space that encourages curiosity and a love of science and learning.鈥�

Shellam Flake Planetarium

The planetarium will undergo a full renovation, including major technology upgrades, improvements to the roof and flooring, and the installation of a state-of-the-art projection system that eliminates the traditional central projector, creating unobstructed views of the dome. The renovated space will feature modern, home theater-style seating for up to 89 visitors.

Once reopened, the planetarium will serve 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students, faculty, and staff, as well as K鈥�12 school groups and members of the general public. 

The planetarium is on target to open in Fall of 2026. It’s part of the university鈥檚 broader science-based investments which includes the campus observatory, the future 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Museum of Natural History, and new outdoor educational features such as the Solar System Walk along Trojan Way. 

Additional details about programming and public access will be announced as renovations continue and the planetarium is reimagined to support both student experiences and community engagement.