Pacific Visions: an innovative immersive AV environment at the Aquarium of the Pacific

The expansion of this facility, which includes an innovative theater and multiple interactive installations, It is an example of technological integration with systems from multiple companies with the aim of creating a unique experience for the viewer..

Situado en Long Beach, California, the Aquarium of the Pacific (Aquarium of the Pacific) is the headquarters of Pacific Visions, a new facility that expands this emblematic center to offer other cultural and entertainment possibilities

This innovative two-story structure, of 2.694 m2 each, It has been designed by the architecture firm Eulogy from San Francisco, to offer its visitors a unique immersive experience that includes a theater, multiple interactive art installations and multimedia displays.

Jerry R. Schubel, President and CEO of the Aquarium of the Pacific, explains that “we have taken an innovative and unconventional path with Pacific Visions. Instead of focusing on larger exhibits and more spectacular animals, new wing focuses attention on the only species on our planet that is changing the future of all others: human beings. Pacific Visions is the culmination of more than a decade of planning, in which we challenge visitors to examine the human impact on our ocean planet and participate in innovations to reduce it”.

To design and technologically equip the Pacific Visions main theater, with capacity for three hundred seats, Those responsible for the aquarium turned to the integrator Edwards Technologies and the audio system manufacturer Renkus-Heinz, among many other companies.

“When we talk about the benefits, We all agreed that we needed to use the right technology to make this space truly immersive - remembers Brian Edwards, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Edwards Technologies.

Inside the main theater, This company integrated four PT-RQ22K 4K laser projectors from Panasonic, con 21.000 center lumens each: three located on the main screen and another on the floor screen. Signals are delivered with an Infinity-4-3600 media server 7thsensedesign.

The projection screen, provided by Strong/MDI, has 42,6 meters wide by 97,5 tall and is curved in a semicircle 22 meters in diameter. AV system also includes live production switchers Blackmagic Design ATEM and a console to support special events, along with a show control processor Medialon Showmaster LE and other SMP streaming media 111 of Extron.

“The ability to integrate screens that wrap around a room and cover more of the viewer's visual range adds to the immersion component,” Edwards emphasizes.. Add additional screens, like those located on the ground, Provides even greater coverage”.

Immersive sound

Another critical component to achieving this immersive experience is the audio system.. The theater's sound installation features multiple Renkus-Heinz products, including 29 ICLive X series speakers from this manufacturer.

ICLive X is a flexible and scalable solution for precise positioning of sound in a space. High-power, digitally addressable arrays can be arranged in combinations up to twelve cabinets high and feature Rhaon II beam steering and control.

The installation also has nine Renkus-Heinz C Series loudspeakers, an audio processor LLC of the Q-SYS Core model 510 and an audio mixer Yamaha QL-1.

“It is important to recognize how everything is connected and integrated,” says Edwards.. We often focus on just audio or video when doing AV integration, but this installation is a good example of the use of all the components of what we see, we hear, we feel and experience. All, Even the effects of aromas and atmospheric components are part of the AV system in this type of integrations”.