Fernbank Museum

Project: Fernbank Museum of Natural History "WildWoods: AGLOW"

As a longtime client, Fernbank Museum of Natural History approached Thinkwell with an ask: to create a nighttime offering that would activate the old-growth forest that surrounds the museum in the cold, dark winter months. Thinkwell partnered with Fernbank to create an all-new illuminated forest walk-through experience, called WildWoods: AGLOW.

Inspired by the native flora and fauna that thrive in the 10 acres of featured woodlands, this multi-sensory experience reveals the wonder of nature and wildlife through an immersive blend of the real environment and glowing displays. Using captivating illumination, immersive projections, interactive scenography, and an original musical composition, WildWoods: AGLOW immerses guests into a natural nighttime wonderland of biodiversity.

Mushrooms & Mama Seed

The Mushrooms were lit inside with customized lengths of our waterproof Pixel FlexLED 24V RGBW Mid Frequency Group Chip Control. Mama Seed is the large egg-shaped structure in the middle of the forest and utilized more of our waterproof Pixel FlexLED 24V RGBW Mid Frequency Group Chip Control to outline Mama Seed. Controlling both elements is our PixlArt 416 controllers and 240W HLG Fanless & Metal Housed Power Supply inside a waterproof enclosure.

Walkway Handrail & Floor Lighting

Throughout the forest under the handrails of the walkway, Neon FlexLED V3 RGB illuminates the boardwalk. The lighting is controlled with our Cinque-LED DMX Dimmer inside waterproof enclosures.

Neon FlexLED Handrail Lighting

WILDWOODS: AGLOW Sign

The word 'AGLOW' was installed utilizing SlimNeon FlexLED (4100K) outlining each letter. SpotFlex LED 42 RGBW (3000K) was installed on the sign to provide uplighting on the letters.

This project has received multiple awards, including the Muse Out-Of-Home Experiential and Immersive category, the Telly Award for Immersive in the Museum category, the Notable Built Environmental Award from Core77, and SEGD Global Design Awards.

Products Used

• Pixel FlexLED 24V RGBW Mid Frequency Group Chip Control
• PixlArt 416
• 240W HLG Fanless & Metal Housed Power Supply
• Cinque-LED DMX Dimmer
• Neon FlexLED V3 RGB
• SlimNeon FlexLED 4100K
• SpotFlex LED RGBW 42 (3000K)

Media Credits: Thinkwell Group