Waves of Wonder

Imagine: Under the Sea… And A Beer Fest?

See The Work

Laser Projectors with special lens elements

1000+

Feet of Cabling

Unique digital creatures

The Challenge

Dual Purpose Space

Science Education

Private Events

In the summer of 2024, COSI brought FireWatch a uniquely ambitious challenge: transform their premier event ballroom (G1) into a dynamic, dual-purpose space that could serve both as an immersive educational environment and a one-of-a-kind venue for private events. The goal was to activate the space for meaningful science engagement when not in use for rentals, while simultaneously enhancing the event experience with features no other venue in the region could offer. The catch? COSI’s education and event teams had distinct, and at times competing, priorities. Our role was to listen, align, and ultimately deliver a solution that honored both visions—seamlessly blending flexibility, functionality, and future-forward storytelling.

STRATEGIC

SPARK

Creating one system to rule them all.

From Spark to Reality

Making It Happen

Transforming Space

Limitless Content Opportunities

Real-Time Updates

To bring Waves of Wonder to life, FireWatch developed a groundbreaking internal content delivery system called FireHouse—a real-time pipeline connecting high-powered laser projectors, digital ceiling tiles, immersive audio, and a fully custom virtual ocean built entirely in Unreal Engine. This seamless integration allowed us to create a living, multi-depth digital seascape populated by over 50 animated marine creatures. The experience was further enhanced by ceiling-mounted audio sensors that actively learn guest behavior and adapt over time, enabling intuitive interaction with the environment. A physical kiosk offers an additional layer of engagement, letting guests trigger effects and explore the digital ocean hands-on. Perhaps most impressively, FireHouse empowers COSI’s events team to instantly transform the space—loading branded content, custom videos, or entirely new environments at the push of a button. Waves of Wonder isn’t just an installation—it’s a living platform, with ongoing enhancements planned to keep this immersive canvas evolving for years to come.

Digital Wall / To help light control and also act as an additional canvas for the events team, we built a large digital wall element at the entrance.

Video on the Ceiling / Digital, semi-transparent ceiling tiles wrap the environment from the wall to the ceiling creating deeper immersion.

We utilized existing columns to help create physical depth and scale in the space — it’s a digital aquarium and the walls are the glass.

Waterless Aquarium / We utilized existing columns to help create physical depth and scale in the space — it’s a digital aquarium and the walls are the glass.

Day/Night Cycle / The whole simulation loops every hour with nighttime and daytime features.

Events Transition / Wall canvases can be easily transformed into custom event walls in minutes.

An expansive, custom Unreal Engine environment runs live like a video game allowing for interaction possibilities in every square inch.

Unreal Engine / An expansive, custom Unreal Engine environment runs live like a video game allowing for interaction possibilities in every square inch.