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From Film To Future: 5 Stunning Facts About The Former Florida Hospital IMAX Dome Theatre (Now America's Second-Largest Digital Dome)

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The name "Florida Hospital IMAX Dome Theatre" evokes a specific era of giant-screen cinema, but as of late 2025, this iconic venue has undergone a massive, multi-million-dollar transformation that few realize. Originally a staple of the Tampa Bay area's educational and entertainment landscape, the theater—which was located at the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Tampa—no longer operates under its famous, decades-old moniker or utilizes the classic IMAX film format. The facility has been completely reimagined to host a cutting-edge, ultra-high-resolution experience, marking a major technological leap for the entire state of Florida.

This deep dive explores the fascinating history of the original dome, the surprising connection to Florida Hospital (now AdventHealth), and the current, breathtaking reality of what is now one of the most technologically advanced planetariums in the entire United States. If you've ever wondered what happened to the massive dome screen that once hosted groundbreaking documentary films, prepare to be astounded by its new 8K-powered identity.

The Golden Age of IMAX: A History of the Dome at MOSI

For decades, the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Tampa, Florida, was home to a cinematic marvel: a true IMAX Dome Theatre. This was not a standard flat-screen IMAX, but a specialized venue designed to immerse viewers in a massive, curved field of vision. The experience was transformative, using a technology that has largely been phased out in favor of modern digital systems.

The Technology That Defined an Era: 15/70mm Film

The original IMAX Dome format relied on 15/70mm film, a massive format that produced an image 10 times larger than a standard 35mm film frame. The projection system was a mechanical beast, utilizing a fish-eye lens to project the image onto the massive, hemispherical screen. This unique setup filled the viewer's peripheral vision, creating an unparalleled sense of motion, especially during flight sequences or underwater explorations. The sheer size and clarity of the 15/70mm film stock made it a benchmark for documentary filmmaking and educational content for over twenty years.

The dome theater's programming typically focused on educational, science-based, and nature-themed short films, perfectly aligning with MOSI's mission. These films were often shot with specialized IMAX cameras, which were notoriously bulky and loud, but delivered a visual fidelity that digital cinema only recently began to match.

The Florida Hospital and AdventHealth Connection

The official name, "Florida Hospital IMAX Dome Theatre," came about through a significant corporate partnership. In the mid-2010s, Florida Hospital, a major healthcare provider in the region, made a substantial $2 million donation to MOSI. This funding was intended not only to rename the theater but also to help incorporate more health and science-related programming into the dome's offerings, blending entertainment with community wellness and education.

Florida Hospital has since rebranded to AdventHealth, a name that reflects its broader national reach and mission. While the theater no longer uses the IMAX name, the legacy of this partnership highlights a successful, if temporary, collaboration between a major non-profit hospital system and a science museum, aimed at enhancing public education in the Tampa Bay area. Even with the transformation, entities like AdventHealth and the Saunders Foundation continue to be key partners in MOSI's latest theatrical endeavors.

The Shocking Transformation: From IMAX Film to 8K Digital Powerhouse

The single most important update about the "Florida Hospital IMAX Dome Theatre" is that it no longer exists in its original form. In a massive, multi-million-dollar renovation, the classic film-based IMAX system was retired, and the entire dome was converted into a state-of-the-art digital planetarium.

America's Second-Largest Digital Dome

The former IMAX dome is now the Saunders Planetarium & Digital Dome Theatre at MOSI. This transformation was not a mere upgrade; it was a complete technological overhaul that resulted in the second-largest digital dome planetarium in the entire United States.

The new theater features a gigantic 82-foot-wide, 10,000-square-foot NanoSeam curved screen. The seamless surface ensures an uninterrupted, hyper-realistic viewing experience. The dome's capacity is approximately 330 seats, providing an intimate yet expansive setting for viewers.

The Power of 8K Projection Technology

The transition from 15/70mm film to digital was driven by the need for greater flexibility and significantly higher resolution. The new Digital Dome Theatre is powered by cutting-edge 8K technology, utilizing an array of 10 high-performance Christie digital projectors. This 8K resolution offers a level of sharpness and brightness that surpasses the capabilities of the old film system, allowing for dynamic, real-time astronomical simulations and immersive 360-degree movies.

The new system allows MOSI to offer a vastly more diverse range of programming. Unlike the old IMAX film format, which was costly and limited in content, the digital dome can easily switch between:

  • Live tours of the night sky, conducted by MOSI's space experts.
  • Full-dome educational films covering everything from oceanography to paleontology.
  • Immersive musical laser light shows, a popular feature for evening events.
  • Interactive STEM experiences and educational programs for students and field trips.

5 Key Differences Between the Old IMAX Dome and the New Digital Dome

Understanding the shift from the "Florida Hospital IMAX Dome Theatre" to the "Saunders Planetarium & Digital Dome Theatre" is a lesson in cinema technology evolution. The change reflects a move from a specialized, high-cost film format to a versatile, high-resolution digital platform. The differences are stark and fundamentally change the visitor experience:

  1. Projection Medium: The old dome used massive 15/70mm film reels, requiring specialized projectionists and complex maintenance. The new dome uses a system of 10 digital Christie projectors, offering immediate content flexibility and lower operational costs.
  2. Resolution: While 15/70mm film offered incredible analog detail, the new dome's 8K digital resolution provides superior sharpness, color depth, and brightness, especially crucial for detailed astronomical imagery.
  3. Screen Size/Technology: The new screen is a 10,000-square-foot NanoSeam curved surface, specifically engineered to be the second-largest digital dome planetarium in the U.S., enhancing the sense of immersion.
  4. Programming Focus: The old dome was limited to IMAX-produced documentaries. The new Digital Dome is the official home of the Saunders Planetarium, with a primary focus on live astronomy shows and real-time cosmic exploration.
  5. Sponsorship Evolution: The original name, "Florida Hospital IMAX Dome Theatre," is now obsolete. While AdventHealth remains an important partner, the new venue is primarily known as the Saunders Planetarium & Digital Dome Theatre, reflecting a new era of philanthropy and technological focus.

Planning Your Visit to the Digital Dome Theatre Today

If your memory of the venue is tied to the old Florida Hospital IMAX Dome Theatre, a trip to the MOSI campus in Tampa will reveal a completely modernized attraction. The new Digital Dome Theatre is a central pillar of the museum's educational outreach, offering a truly immersive way to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects.

Visitors can expect multiple daily showtimes, with programming rotating frequently to keep the experience fresh. From guided astronomical journeys through the Milky Way to full-length 360-degree films on natural history, the dome is a testament to the future of educational entertainment. The transition from the classic, film-based IMAX dome to a cutting-edge 8K digital planetarium ensures that MOSI remains a vital and technologically relevant institution for the Tampa Bay community and beyond, continuing the legacy of giant-screen spectacle in a new, digital age.

From Film to Future: 5 Stunning Facts About the Former Florida Hospital IMAX Dome Theatre (Now America's Second-Largest Digital Dome)
florida hospital imax dome theatre
florida hospital imax dome theatre

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