Diversified, a global technology solutions provider, has partnered with the Museum of Art + Light (MoA+L) in the city of Manhattan, in Kansas, to create a new immersive museum space covering a quarter of the museum’s footprint. The museum opened on November 8, 2024, and the first exhibition to deploy the new technology set-up was Renoir: A Luminous Evolution, dedicated to the life and work of the French impressionist artists Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
Systems used include Meyer immersive audio technology, over 100 Epson projectors spanning approximately 37,000 linear square feet to produce about 188m pixels of animated beauty, and the largest US deployment of the Modulo Pi media server. Beyond the museum’s current exhibitions, the technology was designed with future versatility in mind. MoA+L anticipates using the space for various events, including lectures, town halls, and weddings, adapting it to the needs of the community.
The collaboration also extended to the museum’s De Coded Digital Gallery, where 32 Videri digital screens showcase NFT artwork, and an outdoor projection system have been installed to enhance the ambiance during events. Additionally, Diversified designed and integrated a Cisco Meraki network, which supports all the museum’s experiences as well as office operations.
For the Renoir: A Luminous Evolution exhibition, visitors will encounter art in ways that go far beyond the traditional gallery format. Diversified says they will feel as though they are stepping into the artist’s world, experiencing scenes like a rain-soaked London and watching Renoir’s iconic paintings come to life.
Sydney Bouhaniche, MoA+L’s creative director, said: “Our founders wanted to bring the world to our community in ways they’ve never seen before. Together with Diversified, we’ve created something that not only tells stories but invites visitors to become part of them.”
Travis Heitchew, enterprise programme manager at Diversified, added: “As soon as visitors enter the immersive wing, they’ll be surrounded by stunning 34ft projections and incredible sound. It’s not just what you see – it’s what you feel. The scale and immersion create an emotional impact that pulls people in. This is what will make the museum truly unforgettable.”
Given the scale of the project, extensive testing and pre-configuration were conducted at Diversified’s fabrication facility in New Jersey to ensure the technology would function flawlessly upon installation.
Erin Dragotto, executive director of the Museum of Art + Light, concluded: “The level of collaboration with Diversified has been invaluable. Their past work on iconic projects like the Empire State Building made them a clear choice, but it’s their dedication, speed, and precision that made this partnership a success. Together, we’ve been able to make art more interactive and engaging for all generations, and we’re just getting started.”
The Museum of Art + Light is a 501c3 non-profit, contemporary art museum with the mission to bridge 21st-century technology with the visual and performing arts to “incite positive emotion, cultivate meaningful connections, encourage artistic exploration, and spark innovation”.
