WEST LAFAYETTE, IN—Digital media design studio Exhibitry created an immersive art installation to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Purdue University’s College of Engineering using LED video technology from SNA Displays. Exhibitry designed the digital experience, located in the Herman & Heddy Kurz Atrium at Armstrong Hall, to represent the engineering college’s three core virtues: innovation, ingenuity, and vibrancy. The video wall uses anamorphic creative to feature three of the most consequential Purdue engineers: Neil Armstrong, Amelia Earhart, and Lillian Gilbreth, the “First Lady of Engineering.”
“[We designed] the content to play with your sense of perspective, so from a particular viewing angle, you see depth and shadow and highlights that bring objects off the screen,” said Tracy Evans, president of Exhibitry. “It’s an engineered approach to animation that uses digital magic tricks to affect visual perception and bring dimensionality to what is actually 2D content.”
From a certain perspective in the hall’s atrium, indicated by a sticker on the floor, viewers can relive Armstrong’s “small step” on the moon, watch Earhart depart a hangar in her Lockheed 10-E Electra, immerse themselves in Gilbreth’s groundbreaking motion-tracking studies, and experience John M. Atalla’s many inventions, including the metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), the most frequently manufactured device in history. Peppered between these animations are content pieces unique to the school’s College of Engineering, such as Purdue AI Racing’s autonomous race car and Purdue Space Program’s rocket launch.
“It’s a celebration of Purdue’s commitment to innovation, discovery, and storytelling,” Evans continued. “For students and faculty, especially those in engineering, it’s a real-world example of how disciplines intersect, where the visual arts, computer science, and structural engineering meet. The content of the wall honors Purdue’s legacy while highlighting the latest advances and how the university is shaping the future. If you’re part of the Purdue community, this wall is something you won’t want to miss.”
Mounted flush within the brick wall above a doorway, the 1.8 mm BRILLIANT™ Interior LED displays measures 7’9” high x 13’9” wide (1,260 x 2,240 pixels) and processes more than 2.8 million pixels. The content management system was designed to receive live input for presentations during events, and it integrates audio outputs for event speakers and Exhibtry’s content.
“While designed primarily to play pre-scheduled content, the CMS design and inclusion of live input panels allows for a wide range of experiences, including live events,” said William Kelly, senior project manager at SNA Displays. “It’s an excellent example of the versatility of LED display technology when paired with the right backend system and software. You can adapt it to just about any situation, giving the end user options they may not have even thought of at first.”
Digital Dreams provided LED installation services.
For more information, visit SNA Displays’ portfolio page for the Purdue University Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering.
About SNA Displays
SNA Displays is a leading LED video display manufacturer across several market sectors including sports and live-event venues, out-of-home (OOH), commercial real estate, retail environments, museums and commissioned digital art, workplaces, new construction, and many others. With a focus on quality, technological and construction expertise, and dependable service, we have worked alongside technology partners to design and build some of the largest and most recognizable LED video installations in the world. Discover how Dreams Live Digitally® at snadisplays.com.
About Exhibitry
Exhibitry is a creative technology studio specializing in immersive storytelling through holography, interactive media, and custom fabrication. With over 30 years of experience, the company serves clients in aerospace, energy, education, and museums, delivering turnkey installations that merge animation, software, and physical design. From AI-powered avatars to projection-mapped environments, Exhibitry transforms complex ideas into engaging visitor experiences. Learn more at exhibitry.com.
