Donations for renovations

Donations for Dome renovations

The Australian Academy of Science is raising funds for the renovation of the Dome. Designed by Sir Roy Grounds, the Dome is heritage listed and has been a Canberra landmark since its construction in 1958-59. It is the only Australian building to have won two Royal Australian Institute of Architects awards. The copper dome is larger than St Paul's in London and St Peter's in Rome.

Our goal is to raise $2.4 million. We are very grateful to Professor John Shine, who contributed $1 million and the Council of the Centenary of Federation, which contributed $525,000 towards this goal. These funds have provided:

• silicon treatment to the roof to prevent further leakage
• removal of asbestos, requiring replacement of basement doors and reinsulation of boiler
• installation of air conditioning
• filtering of water in the moat
• rewiring for power and lighting
• construction of a new plant room and culvert under the moat for air conditioning, filtration and electrical switchboard
• construction of two additional bridges over the moat
• installation of up-to-date fire detection devices and control board
• works to improve fire safety and containment in the basement
• placement of safety film on glass doors
• addition of stairwell balustrades to meet safety requirements
• upgrading the kitchen to improve catering
• landscaping of the forecourt and the new plant room
• upgrade the audio-visual and computer projection equipment in the Wark Theatre
• respray the vermiculite to cover salt damage to the Theatre ceiling
• provide moat lighting
• resurface the terrazzo floors
• recarpet the Jaeger Room and Basser Library.

We are seeking an additional $1 million to undertake a master landscape plan that incorporates the entire precinct between Ian Potter House (another heritage-listed building) and the Dome.

The Academy welcomes donations of any size, and all donations are tax deductible. The Academy's Council has decided that donors who contribute an amount of $550 or more may be acknowledged with a small plaque to be affixed to a seat in the Wark Theatre. The seats are part of the Dome's heritage listing, and the plaques can be inscribed with the donor's name or with the name of another person the donor wishes to honour. Donors who provide funding of $5000 or more may be acknowledged more prominently.

If you choose to support the fundraising campaign, we would be grateful if you could print out the donation form and post or fax it to the Academy. Please contact the Academy's Executive Secretary or Development Manager should you have any queries.

Phone: (02) 6247 5777
Fax: (02) 6257 4620
Email: aas@science.org.au