The final show , which runs about 20 minutes , is divided into different chapters , each developed around a piece of original art . The first is centred on animals and wildlife , followed by trees and forest , a postage theme , a dance and nightlife theme , a space theme , an academic and technology theme , and so on .
“ That ’ s [ the artist ’ s ] story , and in between that story is the visual ‘ goo ’ of the show – the effects and animations that work within those themes but show off some of the ‘ wow ’ factor of what this technology can offer .”
Some examples include the building becoming a digital EQ meter that moves in perfect synchronization with the soundtrack , or a library scene where the spines of the books on a shelf become digitized in commemoration of the new digital library . All of that is tied together by a maple leaf motif that reappears throughout the show .
As for the technology that brings the show to life , that ’ s where Westbury ’ s technical team led by Project Manager Doug Wildeboer and VP of Operations Guy Wallace took the reins .
First , they commissioned a two-storey custom steel tower that would hold and protect the projectors in the parking lot facing the Old Post Office – a first for Westbury despite the company ’ s years of experience with projection mapping projects . “ We needed something that would withstand the elements , vandalism , and anything else that could possibly happen , because this is right out in the open ,” Coniglio explains . “ We helped with the design as far as the technical aspects – the height at which the projectors needed to sit and so on – but left the rest of of the design to Unisson Structures and Arcofab , as far as how it would be constructed , and it turned out really well . The client was happy with the aesthetic , which was a relief , because it ’ s a very utilitarian structure by nature .”
The four Christie Boxer 2K30 3-DLP projectors were selected for their proven performance in Westbury ’ s projection applications over the years . “ They ’ re really one of a few manufacturers that can deliver this calibre of projection ,” says Coniglio , “ so ultimately , it comes down to reliability , price point , and serviceability .”
That said , Christie ’ s global headquarters is also in the Tri-Cities in nearby Waterloo , and so on top of being a major employer in the area , the company has a reputation for generously supporting local community-based initiatives . “ So I think the client saw this as an opportunity to give back , and support a company that ’ s been a strong supporter of the city and community ,” Coniglio adds .
Of course , Westbury is also well-versed in Christie Twist , the company ’ s software platform for image manipulation that enables them to deliver such a rich multimedia experience .
For the Old Post Office , the Westbury team spatially mapped the building in the virtual environment , at which point the video content could be manipulated to match the architectural features of its façade down to the pixel . That high degree of precision is what enables the show to veer from a simple two-dimensional show to optical illusions , 3D effects , and unique senses of movement where the video interacts with the architectural features of the surface .
“ Once everything was built and mounted , Ziggy [ Cwierdcinski ] and Kevin [ Mifflin ], who work on many of our projection mapping shows , took over with alignment and getting
CUSTOM PROJECTION TOWER WITH 4 CHRISTIE BOXER 2K30 3-DLP PROJECTORS
the last details together ,” says Coniglio . “ Meanwhile , Guy was ensuring the projectors were properly aligned and commissioned , so it was a collaboration with a lot of our main technicians .”
Coniglio takes a moment to stress the importance of his colleagues ’ expertise in bringing these types of projects to life . “ I can ’ t do what I do without them , plain and simple ,” he says . “ I have great clients that sit down with me and we get to be creative together , but I ’ d never be able to present these kinds of concepts without the technical team to back it up .”
Once the technology was in place and the show was commissioned , they of course needed to execute a series of tests to properly align and calibrate the system , and that was virtually impossible to do discretely – which ended up being a unique promotional opportunity .
“ We wanted to be able to keep it under wraps , but there was just no way ,” recalls Coniglio . “ What ended up happening was people would walk by and not really know what was going on , so they would take pictures that they would share online , so I think it generated some interest and got people talking , which the client actually welcomed – it built up a bit of hype leading up to the opening .”
The show officially premiered on July 6 th , 2018 , for the grand opening of the Idea Exchange at the Old Post Office . The city closed off the nearby streets for the event , which included speeches , activities , live music , and culminated with the projection show .
“ We had someone recording interviews with the visitors before and after the show , and the reactions were great ,” says Coniglio , looking back . “ From the client ’ s standpoint , it met and exceeded their expectations .”
The show welcomed crowds throughout the entire summer before wrapping up its run over the Labour Day weekend . Now , the city is considering
28 | Fall 2018