Rogers-O’Brien (RO) Construction has begun work on “Grandscape”, a 27m-diameter dome in Dallas that will be lined with LED screens to create an immersive entertainment venue.
The “shared reality” project is being built in the Colony, a city in the suburbs of Dallas–Fort Worth for US entertainment company Cosm.
The company’s website gives an idea of what kind of experience will be offered by dome when it is complete, which is something like virtual reality without the headset.
It explains the concept of shared reality as differing from a movie theatre or fine arts performance “where audiences are advised to sit quietly and avoid interacting with the person they’re next to”.
It says: “Shared reality speaks to the human desire to witness and validate experiences with others, while in the moment, acting as a conduit for a collective, shared experience, not an individual one.”
The 6,000 sq m venue was designed by local architect HKS. When complete it will host live events that aim to “redefine the spectator experience … ushering in a new era of immersive entertainment for sports, art, music and more”.
Cosm has begun work on a similar venue in Los Angeles.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Richard Boyer, mayor of the Colony, as well as executives from Cosm, HKS and RO. If all goes to plan, the project will be completed in autumn next year.
