Harkness Screens the world's leading manufacturer of projection screens for entertainment venues, was the screen of choice at the newly opened Labyrinth of Sciences and Arts Museum in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi. The museum, which features a 31 x 17 foot Harkness Spectral 240 3D screen and MF Wrap-round frame for a film that is part of its Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia exhibit, opened to rave reviews.
Papalote Children's Museum in Mexico City, was hired by the government of San Luis Potosi to develop the entire project and the exhibits for the new museum which would be based on the Arts and Sciences.
The 165,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor museum sits on 16 acres of land. Renowned Mexican architects Ricardo and Victor Legorreta were hired to design it and they developed a Mexican colonial type of architecture, with a modern twist. The exhibit halls are distributed around a large patio with a roofed corridor around it, giving it a cloister type of effect. Visitors have access to each individually themed exhibition hall by walking from the patio and through the "cloister" area.
"When we started working on this project in 2005, we discovered the need to improve or extend the goals or attractions of the museum," says Alexander Fucikovsky, Papalote's project manager. "So, our General Director spoke with the San Luis Potosi government and told them that it would be desirable to add about four or five additional elements to the project, including a 3D theater for 100 people."
As a result, the Papalote team developed the concept of a 3D theater. The next step then was to pick the right screen for the theater. "We did our research and it became clear that the Harkness Spectral 240 3D screen was our best option," continues Fucikovsky. "After seeing the movie projected on the screen, there is no doubt we made the right decision."
To accompany the Spectral 240, a Harkness MF Wrap-round frame was also installed. The frame is made from prefabricated sections of round tubular steel that are bolted and clamped together.
"Since the museum opened a few months ago, the 3D theater has been very successful," adds Fucikovsky. "The government of San Luis Potosi has had nothing but great things to say about the screen and the movie and have sold many shows at 90-95 percent occupation."
Fucikovsky has been so impressed with Harkness that he plans on using another one of the company's screens for an upcoming project for yet another museum; this one being built for the governor of Durango (Mexico). "We look forward again to working with Harkness Screens to design and install another great screen."