Archway to LED – A Library Goes Digital

Visitors to the main branch of the Whittier Public Library in Whittier, California, now pass through a digital archway as they enjoy the Library’s many services.

Audiovisual (AV) integrator and experiential technology company Electrosonic, Inc., completed work on bringing this experiential technology solution to the library’s interior space. After being awarded this project, they brought onboard SNA Displays, a member of Electrosonic’s “Technology Partner Program,” to manufacture the LED displays and support the installation.

The team selected the 2.5-mm BOLD Interior LED video technology from SNA Displays. The LED display consists of two dual-sided columns joined overhead at 90-degree angles by the third section of the LED screen.

Each floor-to-ceiling column is two-and-a-half feet wide. The overhead section goes from wall to wall, meaning that visitors are briefly immersed on three sides by LED video technology as they pass through “The Portal” from the main library area to the children’s section.

“Digital displays in public areas like this are ideal for sparking the imagination or setting the right mood,” said Mikell Senger, senior project manager at SNA Displays. “I’m excited for children and adults alike to experience that wonder.”

Electrosonic managed the installation of the dual-faced display system, which processes more than 2.3 million pixels. Installation required careful coordination with architectural and integrator teams to place the digital portal in the space while considering the surrounding walls and passageway, efficiently landing power and data cabling, and ensuring proper ventilation.

Despite the technical nature of the LED installation, a new display is only as good as the content that goes on it. To deliver the library with high-quality, engaging, and relevant content, Electrosonic turned to Render Impact. When Render Impact received the request to create content for this project, they jumped at the opportunity.

Render Impact is no stranger to non-traditional digital displays, as they create high-impact content of all shapes and sizes. Most of their creative content work is for requests outside the usual 16:9 format. Digital ceilings, floors, column wraps, and 90-degree corners are all formats Render Impact is used to dealing with. The company does everything from anamorphic illusions to forced perspectives and CGI nature scenes to 3D-animated graphics.

For this project, Render Impact created four separate pieces of content: an underwater scene made in the Unreal Engine, creative incorporation of historic images of the city of Whittier, a 3D mid-century modern bookshelf canvas, and a tranquil CG nature scene that highlights the Library’s mascot, Leo the Lion.

“The Whittier Library project was an exciting project for several reasons,” said Dan Maher, production manager at Render Impact. “The non-standard screen format of the LED archway always creates a playful canvas, as seen in the bookshelves animation. Creating content for both sides of the archway (public side and children’s side) gave us a great opportunity to craft imagery for a broader range of audiences.

“The longer runtime of the 3D-animated underwater scene allowed us to mix in several small moments for patrons to discover.”

The project’s success could have only been made possible by the hard work and collaboration between the library team and the partner team. As Electrosonic Project Manager April Ahn points out, “Electrosonic, SNA, and Render Impact achieved something great together. I am proud of the work we created through our incredible partnership.”

This collaboration and the new digital canvas have brought a fresh breath of life to the Whittier Public Library. They will live on to inspire and create lasting impressions on library visitors for years to come.

All Photos: Electrosonic, Inc.

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