The University of Louisville announced that the Gheens Science Hall & Planetarium will permanently close due to financial difficulties.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) — The University of Louisville confirmed that the Gheens Science Hall & Planetarium will permanently close as the school addresses ongoing financial challenges.
According to a statement from UofL President Gerry Bradley, economic pressures have forced the university to reassess its priorities and redirect resources toward areas that align with its strategic plan, which will no longer include operating the planetarium.
The facility originally closed in 2020 during the pandemic. Bradley said the planetarium had consistently operated at a financial deficit, requiring the university to subsidize its operations each year. He added that the cost to reopen the facility is too high to justify.
“The decision not to reopen the planetarium is a difficult but final one for the university,” Bradley said in the statement. “We understand and acknowledge that it is a disappointing outcome for some on our campus and in our community, but it is consistent with our plan to make financial choices that align with our strategic plan and support our entire campus community and not just a segment of it. As I said in my State of the University address, the role of this administration is to focus on our mission and allocate resources that align with our strategic plan.”
University officials said an inventory will be conducted to determine which pieces of equipment from the planetarium can be repurposed or sold.
A strategic review of the facility will also take place to determine how the building may be used in the future.
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