News

Indianapolis museum installs Scala software

February 11, 2007

EXTON, Pa. — Scala Inc. announced the deployment of a digital signage network for the Indianapolis Museum of Art by Scala Certified Partner Digital AV. Part of the $220 million expansion program under development at IMA included the vision for a dynamic visual greeting system for visitors and guests as they entered the new Glass Rotunda at the front of the Museum. The entrance was designed with exposed structural steel framework and a glass curtain wall system, creating a large, open environment to welcome visitors. The problem was, the beautiful open area left visitors without a focal point of direction and, considering potential visitor counts in thousands for key events, IMA staff knew they had to pull the minds eye of the visitors to a central point of key information. Enter Mike Prusa, manager of IMA's Ticketing and Visitors Division, who had seen digital signage used in other large museums throughout the country and knew it was exactly what the entrance needed to help guide guests to the wide range of museum locations. A call to Tom Johnson, president of Digital AV, brought the museum in closer to their quest for a signage system that could accomplish multiple goals. Johnson recommended three large digital displays, positioned together on a custom designed steel floor stand from Premier Mounts, with special mounting brackets for flexible positioning. Scala InfoChannel software was recommended to drive the three independent monitors. The computer-driven images would be playing in constant rotation but independently controlled by an external server in a remote location. Information displayed includes museum ticket prices, upcoming museum events and exhibits, various museum attractions and other important location information. With InfoChannel, the museum would alleviate the need to replace constantly changing wall hangings, posters or looping videotapes within the beautiful new space. The large custom LCD mount was ordered along with the 32-inch LCD monitors from LG Commercial Displays. Custom computers from Equus with pre-loaded Scala images on a security enabled "ghost drive" keeps the content secure and the system easy to manage. Johnson noted the aesthetic and ambient light challenge within the large Rotunda. "With all the light and space challenges it turned out very well, easy to read and colorful, and the IMA content looks great on the system."

He also spoke about the return on investment for the DS system. The IMA's challenge was to quickly and efficiently help their guests to a destination decision and to guide them there after the ticket purchase.

"We think the digital signage system answers both of those challenges with a high quality, high technology solution," said Johnson. "It has had to already pay for itself with speed to destination efficiencies." The Scala information display system shows content that can be updated remotely to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Content is changed by periodic or exact schedule, so the museum staff can easily adjust to the expected audience depending on the season or time of day. The main admissions desk signage includes the 3 high-resolution LG Commercial 32-inch LCD screens that show information about the latest museum exhibits with options to grow the network. The ticket counter proved to be the perfect place to educate visitors about ongoing exhibits as well as daily events, and it is continuously updated behind the cashier. IMA staff has expressed high satisfaction with the new system. The screens can also be tied into the same Scala InfoChannel electronic signage system and administered centrally by InfoChannel Network Manager in the museum's control room. Creative work and textual updates are also conceived in the same room via Scala's InfoChannel Designer. When published, changes can either be seen instantly or scheduled to appear later throughout the building.