• April 25, 2018

Storytelling Through the New Video Wall at the Los Angeles Central Library

Mark Taper Digital Commons Video Wall at LA Central Library

Storytelling Through the New Video Wall at the Los Angeles Central Library

Storytelling Through the New Video Wall at the Los Angeles Central Library 600 330 Vantage Technology Consulting Group

The historic Central Library in downtown Los Angeles was originally designed in 1926 by Betram Goodhue and this landmark building is one of the largest libraries in the Western United States. The LAPL recently completed the S. Mark Taper Foundation Digital Commons, a technology-rich social space for library patrons to work, collaborate and learn. The Digital Commons is a 1,000 square foot comfortable, yet modern space where patrons can connect digitally with the world.

The highlight of the new space is a 28-foot wide Video Wall that is viewable from every floor of the Central Library’s Tom Bradley Wing. Norman Pfeiffer of Pfeiffer Partners designed the Digital Commons space and he was also the architect for the Central Library’s 1993 renovation and expansion.

Video Wall at S. Mark Taper Digital Commons - from LAPL

Video Wall at S. Mark Taper Digital Commons – from LAPL

How is the Video Wall Telling the Library’s Stories?

The Video Wall is intended to be a space for storytelling – about the Los Angeles community, the Public Library and our world. Content from the Video Wall is intended to delight, inform and educate library visitors with compelling visual stories and images that are enhanced when projected on a large scale.

In addition to original content produced by the library staff, the video wall features curated works by artists and filmmakers. Two of the current selections are:

These captivating and mesmerizing videos on the 28-foot video wall are a highlight of the Tom Bradley Wing of the library, and are meant to be thought-provoking while making the library a destination visiting place.

When the Digital Commons opened in the Fall of 2017, Janice Taper Lazarof, the daughter of Mark Taper and the President of the S. Mark Taper Foundation said:

“My Father said I see the library as more than a building with books. It is a hub for community interaction allowing all types of people from a myriad of backgrounds to search for knowledge.”

What Services Did Vantage Provide for the Project?

Vantage was hired to support the Library team and Pfeiffer to integrate the video display wall system into the Digital Commons project.

We started out collaborating with the team to create design options that reflect a positive vision for the Digital Commons space as well as providing a feature that draws and captivates visitors of all ages. We came up with three different design concepts – a “splat” screen which yields a fun and unstructured element, a wave wall that adds additional screens wrapping around the adjacent walls, and a traditional rectangular screen. You can view each of the design concepts in the slideshow below.

Ultimately the Library selected the traditional rectangular screen, but left open the possibility of adding the “wow” factors from the other designs when additional funding is raised.

In addition, the Vantage team also:

  • Developed the schematic design, design development and construction documents for the Video Wall
  • Managed the AV system design and bid specification process
  • Provided construction administration to support competitive bidding for the video wall system and manage installation
  • Counseled Pfeiffer Partners and LAPL with suggestions for displayed content and guidelines for content development