“There’s something very clever about the utterly utilitarian seating arrangement also being used as a projection surface. The content is simple, bold and does just enough, without excessive adornment.” —juror Nathan Moody

“The striking design elevates what could be a dry subject, but my favorite part is how the interactive tables double as event seating.” —juror Ben Hughes

Overview: The Port of Vancouver is the largest port in Canada. It creates more than 100,000 jobs in the supply chain across the country. And the port welcomed 805,435 cruise passengers in 2015 alone. These are just some of the tidbits of information that visitors can touch at the Port of Vancouver Discovery Centre—yes, touch. In the center’s fully immersive atmosphere, striking infographics and photography are made interactive through projection onto touch-sensitive benches, offering up fascinating and fun facts for visitors of all ages and serving as useful tools during events like press conferences. Users can skim information at a high level or dig down to discover one of the most important ports in North America.

•The project features touchscreen film–backed Corian-surfaced benches that needed precise calibration, but provide a durable interactive projection surface.
•Touchscreen content includes animated infographics on the port’s activities and operations.
•The project took thirteen months to complete.

Comments by Rhys Kearns, design intern: 
What are the project’s core features? “Film-backed touchscreen technology; a multimodal space where the touch-sensitive projection surfaces can split apart and the center can morph from a ‘discovery’ to a ‘town hall’ setting; dozens of videos; a library of photographic imagery; and a fully interactive conceptual illustration of the harbor from the perspective of the shoreline.”

What software, back-end technology and programming languages were used? “Displax touch film and software, a TUIO server, and ActionScript 3.”

What was the response? “The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Being adjacent to Vancouver’s downtown cruise ship terminal and within a hub of tourist activity, the Port of Vancouver Discovery Centre welcomes, educates and delights tourists and locals alike on a daily basis.”