Founded in the wake of September 11, Wall Street Rising is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting downtown Manhattan; the Information Center was established to be the information hub for the downtown community. Pentagram’s model provides information about where to eat, where to shop, historical information about monuments, museums and buildings, events, and new building developments.

Pentagram was presented with the challenge of drawing visitors to the center and effectively delivering information to a diverse audience. The team proposed an interactive model of Lower Manhattan, presented in a large-scale projection focused on an architectural model and controlled via a gyro mouse, which can be pointed at specific buildings and menus. The user can highlight points of interest and view historic and contemporary photographs and short film clips. Pentagram developed the digital interactive application using Macromedia Flash to integrate the projected content. Technical challenges included the integration of two projectors seamlessly projecting a continuous image onto a 3D surface at varying heights (from the model’s street level to the tops of its highest buildings), and the alignment of pixels on a movable surface.

“This installation’s fusion of a physical exhibit, controlled lighting and gesture-based interactivity results in an enchanting, informative experience. The physical presence and electronic responsiveness is absolutely captivating—I wish I made it!”
“Very beautiful, memorable and effective.”