Dawn Hollingsworth, managing design principal of Visual Terrain, commented: "Visual Terrain was presented with a challenging design opportunity by the architect at Morongo Casino. The architect's desire for a visual experience to draw visitors from a distance as they approached the property meant we had to think of an extraordinary approach. Element Labs' Versa TILE was the perfect blend of light and image. We were able to create a solution that literally stopped traffic on Interstate 10 (without accidents) and presented the property with a unique identity. Element Labs was instrumental from concept design to realization. They were so supportive in every aspect, they really give the design team a sense of partnership on the project."
Matthew Levesque, a senior designer at Visual Terrain says, "The video capability of the product to create colour changes, imagery, and text made the programming process achievable within days rather than weeks, while still providing a highly dynamic system of light to meet Morongo's needs." Upon viewing the video, the client loved the idea and eagerly signed off on the design. That's when the real challenge began. Not only would the Versa TILE system need to be constructed to be suitable for an exterior area, but the panels would also need to be waterproof."
Although Element Labs had already been developing the Versa TILE X2, this project marked the first opportunity for an installation. The Versa TILE X2 are encased in an exterior housing and may be attached to almost any outdoor surface. In Morongo's case, tile strips were customized to fit on the curtain wall mullions, making installation fast and easy. The slim design also solved a cosmetic issue faced by the hotel. "This made the fixture practically invisible to guests inside," Levesque says, noting that while exterior lighting is important for a hotel, it's also vital that it doesn't overwhelm those staying inside.
When it came time to develop content, Visual Terrain and Element Labs collaborated to create an environment that would showcase the massive design while still utilizing the video effects of the Versa TILE. The output was a mixture of video content and text that scrolls across the top of the building. Streams of dazzling video, colour, and the words "Morongo Casino" can be seen for miles along I-10 outside of Palm Springs, California.
Levesque was extremely pleased with the entire experience. "From coordination with the specialty contractor to the onsite supervision of the installation," he explains, "Element Labs is a company we look forward to working with in the future."
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
