The Observatory Project
The Magnetical Observatory is a free standing neo classical building. It was originally built in 1838 in the grounds of Trinity College Dublin. The architect Frederick Darley, a pupil of Francis Johnston, designed the building. Darley came from a building and brewing family, which intermarried with the Guinness family. He also designed the library at The Kings Inns and conservatories for the Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin in Dublin. It is of the Doric Order, the front elevation being partly copied from an Athenian model. The Observatory was used by Dr. Humphrey Lloyd for experiments in the magnetic field before he became Provost of Trinity (1867-1881). The stone used in the building was subjected to rigid examination in order to ensure that it was devoid of any magnetic influences. Only copper nails were used in the woodwork & other metallic fastenings were of brass. No iron fittings, standard at the time, were used in construction. New methods supplanted Dr. Lloyd's apparatus and in its later years at Trinity College, the building was used to house the manuscripts section of the library. The Observatory was taken down in Trinity College to make way for a new Arts building and was rebuilt in 1974/5 at University College Dublin.
A generous donation to UCD Film Studies in 2003 by Dr Frank O'Kane, Chairman and Managing Director of Mercury Engineering Group funded the conversion of the protected structure into a 40 seat dedicated digital screening space for students of Film Studies. The interior of the Observatory has been totally refurbished and now incorporates tiered seating, a full width THX cinema screen, certified 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound and projection facilities accommodating many source material formats including HD DVD, DVD, Digibeta, BetaSp, Laserdisc, S-VHS & VHS, DVC-Pro, and data (XGA), in both PAL and NTSC standards. The technical fit out was overseen and carried out by Ardmore Sound Ltd in consultation with Bell Theatre Services UK.