Uncertain Future
Plans are underway to move the Planetarium from its central location to Maisonneuve Park in the eastern part of the city, near the Olympic Stadium. The logic behind this decision is that it would make more sense for the Planetarium to be close to other science-themed attractions like the Biodome, the Insectarium and the Montreal Botanical Garden, which are already in this area. The move would cost an estimated $31 million. Rio Tinto Alcan would contribute $4 million, with the three levels of government (city, province and federal) splitting the rest.
Heritage conservation group Heritage Montreal has listed the Planetarium as a "threatened emblematic site," stating that such a move would "result in the loss of the primary function of the planetarium structure and could serve as a pretext for its demolition. This would deprive Montreal of an exceptional facility, one that could contribute to the cultural revitalization of this part of downtown that borders the commercial centre of the city, the École de Technologie Supérieure and the Cité du Multimédia."
As of October 2011, the building has sat vacant, with no short or long term plan to reuse it for a different purpose. It is currently unknown what will become of the former planetarium or its out-dated equipment, but one strong possibility is that the building could be demolished.
Read more about this topic: Montreal Planetarium
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—Bible: New Testament St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians, 14:8.
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