Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas needed a dynamic new display for the lobby leading to its Aquarium Pyramid. Exhibit designer 1120 Exhibits scrapped plans for a 25K projector system and instead installed FLEXLite NXG LED video wall system from Nashville-based PixelFLEX.
As for whether or not that was a good decision, the pictures speak for themselves.
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“We typically do the interior renovations for a number of different corporate environments, but this was our first time working with Moody Gardens,” says Dan Chadwick, director of interactive services, 1220 Exhibits.
“With the project, we won the bid to oversee the complete A/V installation for the renovation of the Aquarium Pyramid where the original design for the lobby called for a 25K projector system.
“Once we ran the numbers, we were able to show how using a LED video system would be a better long-term solution while giving them a much more compelling digital display for the lobby experience.”
The idea, of course, is to use the technology to draw visitors into the immersive 1.5-million-gallon aquarium tank experience.
“One of our primary goals with this renovation was to create a dynamic, immersive experience for guests the moment they stepped foot in the Aquarium Pyramid,” says John Zendt, president/CEO, Moody Gardens, in a PixelFLEX press release.
“The clarity and crispness of the image on the PixelFLEX LED video wall helps us achieve this goal and is exactly what we hoped for from this design.”
More from the press release on the PixelFLEX FLEXLite NXG solution:
With fully front-serviceable video panels, plus seamless right-angle corner capabilities, FLEXLite NXG is one of the highest resolution LED video displays on the market today.
Available in 2.6-6.25mm pitch options, plus a 6.25mm full outdoor IP65 version as well, the FLEXLite NXG 500mm x 500mm video tiles are calibrated directly out of the box to ensure perfect color and brightness to help realize the full potential of any LED video design.
Click to enlarge
Unconventional Project, Unconventional Challenges
“Since all of the exhibit houses at Moody Gardens are built in a pyramid-style with the outer façade being made of glass, we knew there would be an uncontrollable amount of natural light that would bleed into the space,” says Chadwick.
“Because of this, they would need to install a fairly large projector to counteract the natural light, and even at its maximum capacity, a projection system would not provide the image quality that we could achieve with the high-definition FLEXLite NXG 3.9mm LED video wall.”
As the system installation got underway, the LED video panels would be mounted high above the crowd on a curved wall greeting guests as they arrive.
In a busy A/V renovation schedule where time is an asset, the design features of the FLEXLite NXG system added an additional benefit to the project, allowing it to install quickly and easily.
“The completed LED video wall now measures 20-feet wide by 10-feet high and is mounted over a stairwell approximately 15-20 feet above the ground,” adds Chadwick.
“To connect the panels to the curved mounting wall, we first removed the drywall and fastened ¾” plywood to the metal sub-structure underneath. We then bolted the panels directly to the plywood with about a 5-degree curve. We ended up using 72 total FLEXLite NXG panels and it went pretty smooth as we completed the full LED video system installation in only three days.”
How to Create Engagement
Now ready to begin sending content through the LED video system, the digital display would become both an informational and an excitement generating element to the renovated Aquarium Pyramid, according to the PixelFLEX press release.
“The content for the lobby display is being driven by a custom-built Watch-Out computer with a full HD signal being sent through a PixelFLEX sending unit,” says Chadwick.
“The video itself shows a short intro movie to the new Aquarium Pyramid, then it switches over to the daily schedule for the events taking place throughout the exhibit. The video then plays in a loop as part of the completely renovated lobby experience and it’s doing a great job of getting visitors excited from the moment they walk in the door.”
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Projecting the LED Equipment
With the full project complete, Moody Gardens opened the doors to the renovated Aquarium Pyramid, allowing guests to now explore the oceans of the world in a 1.5 million-gallon aquarium.
Operating in a busy theme park environment, system integrators must be able to ensure the product solutions durability, which is another reason Chadwick took a look at PixelFLEX, according to the press release.
“We chose PixelFLEX because they were a trusted LED video manufacturer and we wanted to have a partner that we could count on to help us create the design we wanted,” Chadwick says.
“As the entrance focal point for the renovated Aquarium Pyramid, the feedback we have received has been amazing. Everyone has been extremely pleased with how crisp and clear the high-resolution imagery comes through, and we have had multiple comments that the FLEXLite NXG LED video was a fantastic solution for the new lobby display.”
