The creative team included design architect Gwathmey Siegel, architects BH+A who carried the architectural development through, and exhibit designers Scenic Technologies, who worked with the venue's curatorial staff to design the exhibition. Electrosonic won the contract for the audio-visual system integration and installation by bid on a system designed by Thoughtful Designs. Electrosonic then partnered with Cortina Productions and NBA Entertainment to provide a complete hardware and production package. Once the contract was let out, Electrosonic updated the system design to include newer technologies, thereby making some cost savings for the client.
The centrepiece of the Hall is a Scoreboard featuring four video screens and an extensive sound system for playback of custom material. The audio system was a big challenge acoustically, as the main structure is a dome with a hardwood floor. In addition to video pieces supporting the various historical background themes, there are several visitor interactive exhibits.
Electrosonic was responsible for the complete audio-visual systems supply and installation. Electrosonic SD Video Servers are extensively used; and a MediaSonic ESCAN Scheduler show control program and MediaSonic FrENDS are used to automatically co-ordinate the start up and shut down of all exhibits, and also to control the visitor interactives. MediaSonic is a newly formed division of Electrosonic. Ease of use was an important factor; and the MediaSonic ESCAN system is self-monitoring and reports any technical equipment failures. Exhibition switch on is automatic and the system shuts down at the correct time every night; but also allows these times to be changed via a simple user interface.
The MediaSonic FrEND is a new product from the company, and is a network peripheral device which supports multiple serial and discrete control channels. All control channels are supported under a single TCP/IP connection, making control system design and layout very simple. With full driver support for the ESCAN control software, the FrEND is part of the audio-visual network, and has a built-in timecode reader and generator which allows it to perform synchronous events across multiple units.
There are nine stations with computer interactive displays driven by ELO Touch touchscreen monitors. Video display devices include Digital View LCD Monitors, Panasonic CRT monitors, and Pioneer Plasma screens. Fast Forward Video Omega digital video recorders are also used for the interactives involving recorded video of the visitors; and also for the main Scoreboard show (for full motion JPEG quality images). The two theatres display large screen images projected by Sanyo XF-30 video projectors onto Stewart screens. One of the theatres uses the Stewart Ultramatte projection screen, which is optimized for use as a front and rear screen at the same time. A central control room, with eight racks of equipment, serves the main museum exhibits and retail background audio areas, plus the separate multi-purpose theatre with video projection.
(Ruth Rossington)
