Thorburn Associates announced the successful delivery of a turn-key audio/video/show control system for the newly opened Auditorium and Mysteries of the Deep Exhibit at Monterey Bay Aquarium.
"For this project we provided comprehensive audio, video, and show control design and engineering services including initial system design and layout, detailed engineering, construction supervision, show control programming and design, as well as acceptance testing and user training." stated Lisa A. Thorburn, CTS, President and CEO of Thorburn Associates. "The Aquarium wanted a single point of contact and responsibility for the complete system installation which is one of our strengths."
The new exhibit and auditorium celebrates the life that thrives up to 10,000 feet below the surface of Monterey Bay. For the exhibit area Thorburn Associates provided the audio backbone. The exhibit is divided into three zones, each representing life at a specific depth; at approximately 1000 feet below the ocean's surface coral, sea cucumbers, and brightly colored anemone thrive; in the mid zone, life forms that can only exist in the water are highlighted through video clips taken from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) research vessels; the last zones focuses on the bottom dwellers. Here are found such interesting creatures as a Predatory Tunicate (which has a hood-like mouth where it traps unsuspecting victims) and an eight foot wide skate fish.
For the Auditorium, Thorburn Associates provided all audio, video, and show control system design and engineering as well as construction management and user training. The Auditorium brings the research scientists to life for the visitor. Through a live video link guests can actually see what the scientists aboard the MBARI research vessels see. "During the system testing and adjustment phase, we actually saw a siphonophore (a multi-cell invertebrate) get caught on one of the collector arms. It reminded me of a ribbon caught on branch and fluttering in the breeze. Later we heard that it was the very first time anyone ever saw that particular species - and we saw it as it was discovered!" said Thorburn. It is that type of real life excitement that makes the Deep Link so successful. |
