01 — Challenge
Turning a museum lobby into an instrument
The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery wanted more than a waiting area — they envisioned a permanent installation that would stop visitors in their tracks the moment they entered. The challenge was creating something durable enough for a high-traffic public space while remaining genuinely interactive and endlessly surprising.
The space needed to work for all ages — intuitive enough to engage instantly, yet rich enough to reward curiosity.
02 — Solution
An immersive environment that responds to you
Alt Ethos designed and built SoundScape as a large-scale interactive projection and audio system permanently embedded in the museum lobby. Visitors move through the space and the environment reacts — sound layers shift, visual patterns evolve, and the entire room becomes a playable surface.
The installation uses real-time motion tracking to translate visitor movement into musical and visual responses. The result is an immersive instrument that anyone can play without prior knowledge or instruction.
03 — Inside the Project
Where sound and light become one
The system architecture combines high-output projection mapping with a multi-channel spatial audio engine. Custom software processes visitor input in real time, generating responses that feel immediate and musical. Every design decision prioritized longevity — the hardware and software stack were engineered for 24/7 uptime with remote monitoring built in from the start.
04 — Outcome
A signature experience that defines the space
SoundScape became the defining experience of the FCMoD lobby — a landmark that visitors remember and return for. The installation demonstrates how interactive technology can transform public architecture into a participatory art form, creating genuine emotional resonance without a single screen or button.