I am chagrined to learn that UNR has decided to demolish the Fleischmann Atmospherium/ Planetarium. I am the son of the late Raymond Hellmann, AIA, who was the architect for this architectural icon. I followed in my father�s footsteps and became an architect, ironically practicing on the public side as the Campus Architect for the University of California at San Diego.

I write to enlist the support of the community to collect together and request that the university administrators reconsider their planning options. I know, as a university administrator myself, substantial public outcry will cause UNR to yield to this public relations challenge.

This building represents a significant and unique architectural vernacular that is a living piece of architectural history. It was also one of the earliest examples of active solar energy design. The Atmospherium/Planetarium is on the National Register of Historic Places, but that classification apparently may not protect it from the wrecking ball.

Please call, write and otherwise let UNR know that the Atmospherium/Planetarium is an important, living and architecturally historic icon and that it must not be demolished.

M. Boone Hellmann, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Campus Architect

One of the best experiences of my life was accompanying my son�s 5th- grade class to the Fleischmann Planetarium. It�s not often you can witness the joy and wonder on a child�s face when he first touches a meteorite, knowing that it has flown millions of miles through space to crash upon the earth.

I already miss that experience and I know the community will lose a valuable resource when the Fleischmann Planetarium is torn down.

While UNR may have its prettier settings, it is not in the top 10 colleges for being picturesque. The drive up North Virginia Street displays mostly an assortment of not very attractive buildings. The grass and wooded hill upon which the Planetarium sits is one of UNR�s more attractive sites. That alone is probably sufficient reason not to build another parking garage on the site.

I am aware of the vague promises and discussion of either Reno or Sparks building a planetarium. Having lived in this town for over 25 years, I believe it�s a poor bet that these cities would build such a project simply for the joy and edification of their citizens.

A prudent guardian of an educational trust would assure that such a project was already approved and funding encumbered before sacrificing the existing resource.

Stu Alderman

Cardiff By The Sea, Calif.

Planetarium�s loss is concession to ugliness

Bravo, Cory Farley! Your recent column (December 15) on the coming destruction of the Planetarium is right on. The Planetarium is one of the best buildings, from an architectural point of view, that exists in Reno.

The numerologists (engineers, contractors, and other special interests) are at it again. I read that a federal bureau had set the value of a human life at three-plus million dollars. Numerologists at UNR equate more students with more parking spaces to replace an architectural treasure. Eventually, all buildings at UNR will have to be razed to allow for more student parking. Who needs science and culture anyway?

A perfect example of numerology in action is the newly completed Reno-Sparks Convention Center. No doubt the numbers left no room for esthetic considerations. As a people, we probably put more of a premium on ugliness than any other that has existed.

At Oxford and Cambridge in England, they solved the parking problem by not allowing students to have autos on campus. They only allow bicycles. But, here in the U.S.A., our coddled students are encouraged to remain fat and vacuous in their precious automobiles. Making public transportation mandatory might be a better solution than building another (ugly) parking garage.

Italo Gavazzi, Reno

�Cathouse� owner keeps door open for media

In response to Cory Farley�s piece (Dec. 7): I thought readers might like to know that �Cathouse� was a huge success � becoming the most-watched nonfiction show in the history of HBO. As for Mr. Farley�s assertion that HBO glossed over the murkier issues of prostitution (legal or not), I must say that editorial was their bailiwick not mine.

Frankly, I have always had an open-door policy at the ranch where the media is concerned. We�ve had everyone from the New Yorker to the BBC scrutinize us with no interference from me, my staff or the working women of the BunnyRanch.

It has never been and never will be my intention to draw conclusions for others. Of course, I�ve taken my share of hits for taking this exposed posture, but I�ll say this: Of all the P.R., chatter, glory and praise, nothing has made me quite so proud as having the Dayton Chamber of Commerce place a banner link to their Web site on the first page of the BunnyRanch site.

We�re honored to be a positive driving force in bringing awareness of our neck of the woods to the rest of the world.

Dennis Hof, Carson City

Owner, Moonlite BunnyRanch