January 6, 2017—D3D Cinema is pleased to announce that the Fernbank Museum of Natural History (FMNH) has selected D3D to provide FMNH with two new digital cinema systems in early 2017. Located in central Atlanta, Georgia, FMNH is undertaking significant upgrades to their existing Giant Screen theater as well as a second auditorium space. Work will begin this month, with both new theaters launching in early February after undergoing comprehensive technology upgrades to provide significantly enhanced viewer experiences, as well as dramatic improvements to functionality.
In the all-new Rankin M. Smith, Sr. Giant Screen Theater, D3D will replace the existing projection system with dual Christie® Digital 4K 3D laser-illuminated projectors, a premium QSC 5.1 audio system and a new screen from MDI. The state-of-the-art laser projectors will illuminate the Fernbank’s giant screen with a brilliant expanded color gamut and 3D images far beyond the capabilities of the former IMAX® 15/70 2D film-based projection system.
The system will be complemented by a full alternative content package which will allow FMNH to present a far wider selection of mission-related and specialty content in the theater than ever before, as well as to turn the theater into a powerful and capable event space for everything from lectures to private rentals outside of normal museum operating hours.
“Fernbank has always sought to immerse viewers in the natural world through films, but the new top-of-the-line digital laser technology and 3D capabilities of the Giant Screen Theater will greatly enhance the experience. We hope moviegoers will continue to discover a deep connection to science, nature and human culture through the stunning image and sound quality of this highly advanced digital system,” said Jennifer Grant-Warner, Fernbank Executive Vice President & Chief Programming Officer.
“We’re honored to have the opportunity to work with the Fernbank Museum on this important and exciting project,” said Derek Threinen, Vice President of Business Development for D3D. “In redefining the Fernbank’s signature Giant Screen experience, a new generation of museum visitors will be inspired through unparalleled presentations of compelling stories from around the world, and beyond. The new digital laser system will also provide the Fernbank with significant ongoing savings in operating costs in the theater, expected in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.”
In addition to the digital laser system for the Giant Screen Theater, D3D will also install a 2K 2D DCI-compliant digital cinema system with a premium 5.1 QSC audio system as part of a major upgrade to Fernbank’s Francie Wood Wilson Foundation Theater, which will be used for a wide variety of special programs as part of the museum experience.
About D3D Cinema
D3D Cinema offers complete digital cinema solutions and services to museum and attraction industry clients worldwide, providing a unique partnership approach to cinema design and content production built around four core capabilities – theater design and installation; touring exhibition theaters; an award-winning library of giant-screen digital content; and custom signature film production. Comprised of institutional theater specialists, D3D excels in bringing first-to-market immersive cinema technologies to its clients, offering technology-agnostic consultation, strategic planning, installation, content production & distribution, operational support, and ongoing service. D3D is headquartered in Evanston, IL, with offices in the greater New York and Philadelphia areas, Canada and Spain. www.d3dcinema.com
About Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Fernbank Museum of Natural History, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, is one of the most popular and iconic cultural attractions in Atlanta. Home to the world’s largest dinosaurs, Atlanta’s biggest Giant Screen Theater and one of the largest assemblages of urban Piedmont forest in the United States, Fernbank brings science to life through immersive programming and unmatched experiences that encourage a greater appreciation of our planet and its inhabitants. Fernbank continues its nearly 80-year environmental legacy to protect Fernbank Forest while fulfilling an educational mission to inspire life-long learning of natural history. Visit fernbankmuseum.org for more information and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.