"This project saw six years of meticulous planning, design, consulting and 'green' engineering and to have our role recognised by leading US trade awards for the California Academy of Sciences is an outstanding achievement. We're also delighted that many of our key partners and friends were also able to join us in celebrating the award wins at InfoComm," says Blair Parkin, managing director at Visual Acuity.
"These partners included the California Academy of Sciences as well as Thinc Design (creative and exhibit designers of the Aquarium, Rainforest and Water Planet exhibits), BBI (AV systems integrators for part of the project) and other integrators such as Global Immersion and Sky-Skan. Other technology companies involved included IT and communications consultancy, Teecom Design Group, Science Communications Consultants, Bay Area Cinema Projects, Meyer Sound Labs and technology partners Dolby Laboratories, Philips ColorKinetics, Think Logical, projectiondesign and many more."
Both awards were presented to Visual Acuity's director of technology, Frank Sheehan at InfoComm 09 in Orlando Florida in June and focus on the technology aspects of the project with specific reference to the integration of technology with architecture and the use of next generation technology and media.
The specific areas of recognition included the Morrison Planetarium, Visualization Studio, Hohfeld Hall, Hearst Forum 3D DCI cinema, fibre media network infrastructure and projection and server infrastructure in the Water Planet exhibit.
Located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, California Academy of Sciences houses three public attractions - Steinhart Aquarium, Morrison Planetarium and the Kimball Natural History Museum - under a 2.5-acre undulating green roof. It's also home to the most famous albino alligator in the world, called Claude.
The new facility is one of the most environmentally friendly museums on the planet and is the largest building with an esteemed LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum rating from the US Green Building Council. Visual Acuity acted as the major media and technology adviser to the project throughout.
(Jim Evans)
