TIME ESCAPE
IIDA Award of Merit
This experiential exhibit takes visitors back to prehistoric time, the Great Chicago Fire and the 1933 Expo. To “sell” this classic time travel experience, the lighting design had to establish a futuristic electric style, and grab attention and curiosity. At the entry, ultra-modern color accented fixtures define this style. Transporter “power” comes from custom “energy-generators” and “conduits” with flowing crackle-plasma, developed by the lighting designers.
Before boarding, Al, the robot pilot, explains time travel hazards, illuminated from color-programmable Fiberoptic spotlights, while glowing neon, unique fixtures, and LEDs accent the Transporter fuselage. Standard fixtures with unusual positioning and filtering create a futuristic environment that also allows passengers eyes to acclimate for viewing 3D video. Inside the Transporter, panels glowing from dimmable fluorescent strips, colored recessed and monorail spotlights, and programmable fiberoptics reinforce the futuristic motif. An LED color-changer portrays the “Flux-capacitor”, and strobes flicker as passengers witness dinosaurs, the Chicago Fire, and fly around the 1933 Expo.
Clever installation, detailing, and programming of inexpensive fixtures successfully portrayed a futuristic look, making this a popular educational attraction.
