HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-09-041 - City Hall Digital ProjectionREPORT
REPORT T0: Council
DATE OF MEETING:
SUBMITTED BY:
PREPARED BY:
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
DATE OF REPORT:
REPORT NO.:
SUBJECT:
August 24, 2009
Rod Regier
Rod Regier
All
August 18, 2009
CAO-09-041
City Hall Digital Projection
RECOMMENDATION:
For information only.
BACKGROUND:
In 2008, Council approved the installation of digital projectors to illuminate the 13m cube
structure on the top of City Hall (DTS-07-188). CAFKA had previously demonstrated the
potential of such an installation by utilizing two 18,000 lumen Christie Digital projectors as the
centre piece of their 2007 Haptic festival. The visual impact on Downtown Kitchener was
substantial.
In addition, in 2007 city staff working with corporate partners such as Communitech, Christie
Digital, Desire2Learn, Dalsa and its Economic Development Advisory Committee finalized the
City's Economic Development Strategy 2007-2010. This strategy identified Digital Media as a
priority emerging cluster based on the strengths of corporate and institutional partners. The
projection on City Hall helps to advance this strategy, by creating a new high profile venue to
showcase digital art and technology.
As a final complementary project, the 2008 Artist in Residence project commissioned, for the
first time, a project in digital media rather than conventional media in the visual arts. Together
with the sponsorship of the Digital Media Convergence Centre in Downtown Kitchener, these
initiatives support an integrated approach to the development of a new industry in Kitchener and
help animate King Street with contemporary art and technology.
REPORT:
Two Christie Digital HD18 projectors are now permanently mounted in specialized
environmental chambers on Kitchener City Hall. They will illuminate the south and west faces of
the 13 metre cube that sits above the City Hall cafeteria on the 10t" Floor. They are plugged into
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a media server that is managed with amulti-site media management program called mymedia.
This will allow the City to program the projection on City Hall on a minute by minute basis.
The digital projection will provide
o anew visual focal point for downtown,
o anew digital gallery for artists in the community and
o a test bed for new digital projection applications and content
o visual support to events being held in the downtown
^ promo videos
^ live streaming main stage
^ special interactive features
A project team headed by Don Chapman and Silvia DiDonato is coordinating the development
of a policy framework for administering the projection with a steering committee consisting of
staff from various Divisions. City staff are also working with local arts and events organizations
to help them develop content for the projection.
The City Hall digital projection project is currently anticipated to evolve over at least 3 phases.
During Phase 1 (2009/2010), the projection program will promote and support city sponsored
cultural events and festivals. It will also support public art exhibitions and create new event
opportunities.
In Phase 2 (2010/2011), additional programming scope and sponsorship will be developed.
Staff will also explore the possibility of developing a website to support community engagement
in digital media.
In Phase 3 (2011 +}, staff will explore opportunities for multi-site projection of programming
content developed for City Hall. Other sites might include KPL sites, community centres, Centre
in the Square, City recreation facilities, outdoor information kiosks or entrance features. Through
out the development process, partnerships with community stakeholders, businesses and
organizations will be essential.
The program schedule for the City Hall digital projection will be from dusk to 11:00 p.m. every
day during the year, except during city sponsored events. Projections during City sponsored
events will be developed in conjunction with those events.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The project requires no new operating or capital funds.
COMMUNICATIONS:
A communications plan forthe City Hall digital projection is under development. Media and key
stakeholders have been invited to observe the projection from the Civic Square following
Council and a media release has been prepared. Staff will continue to make the public and key
stakeholders aware of the ongoing development of the City Hall digital projection.
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CONCLUSION:
The City Hall digital projection is a one of a kind project made possible by generous sponsorship
of Christie Digital. It will help animate King Street, provide support services to cultural events
and create a new venue for digital art in the City of Kitchener. It also supports the
implementation of the City's Economic Development Strategy's objective of developing a digital
media cluster in the downtown.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: R. Regier, Executive Director of Economic Development
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