2 designs stand out for Shanghai Planetarium

Two designs for the construction of the Shanghai Planetarium, a branch of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, stood out from six candidates after rounds of voting and expert panel discussions, the museum announced on Wednesday.

The two plans were submitted by Ennead, a firm from the United States, and French firm Alain Sarfati. The museum said there will be further bidding and discussions before the selection of the winning plan for the planetarium, which is scheduled to be completed by 2018 at the east end of the city beside the coast.

Shanghai is already home to an observatory and astronomical museum, for the purpose of scientific research and displaying historical objects for the development of the science in China.

The planetarium will allow the public to more closely watch space and the constellations, according to the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum.

The planetarium will cover an area of 38,000 square meters and the cost of construction may exceed 499 million yuan ($80.13 million), according to a government circular on urban planning.