This view, looking northwest from the Biodôme, shows the site of the future Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium. New images are generated once every minute, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., 7 days a week. The existing structural slab, which will receive the new building's ground floor, has been exposed and prepared to receive the steel structure. Erection of the structure began November 7, 2011, and was mostly completed by mid-February, 2012. Current work aims at weatherproofing the roofs and closing off the exterior walls, so work can begin inside the building. Work is also proceeding at a fast pace on the lower level.

For comparison purposes, the view below, taken in early July, shows the inital state of the site, before prep work had begun; only the security fences had been put up.