Spark Interactive | Electrosonic

Transforming Holocaust education into a living, mobile experience.

The Obama Presidential Center and Museum is more than a place to preserve history. It is a space that tells the story of President Barack Obama, and Michelle Obama’s journey, the experiences that shaped his presidency, and the values that continue to inspire civic engagement. Designed to create an engaging and inclusive environment, the Museum encourages guests to gather, interact and feel empowered to contribute to positive social change.

This museum is a vision brought to life through an immersive audiovisual experience spanning four floors, guiding visitors on an interactive journey through President Obama’s life, leadership and legacy. Thoughtfully integrated audiovisual technology, interactive media and curated exhibits foster moments of both personal reflection and shared participation. By connecting President Obama’s story to the broader American narrative, the experience encourages every visitor to consider the role they play in shaping the nation’s future.

Working with the project lead, Exhibition Design firm Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA), Electrosonic delivered end-to-end audiovisual technical design services for the Obama Presidential Center Museum, spanning AV consulting, concept design, schematic design, design development and final design documentation. Every phase carefully supported the museum's vision of creating a memorable, immersive experience that educates, inspires and encourages meaningful visitor engagement.

Breaking down barriers to bring history to life.

The Obama Foundation’s goal when creating the Presidential Center was to celebrate President Obama’s presidency while providing a community and educational space for visitors through a modern, technology focused Museum with many public areas.

RAA engaged Electrosonic to design a completely new audio, visual and control system that aligns with the Foundation’s intent. RAA selected Electrosonic due to a longstanding partnership with over 20+ years of collaboration and reliable expertise in designing complex, immersive AV environments translating exhibit concepts into reliable, scalable technical solutions.

The result is a seamless blending of AV technologies into the exhibits, enhancing the visitor experience while maintaining long-term maintainability, flexibility and performance of the installed systems across four levels of the museum. The system design includes high-performance equipment to drive interactive touchscreen displays, immersive projection zones and multi-floor edge blended projection systems that creates large scaled seamless visual environments, enhancing the sense of continuity and spectacle with the space.

From venue to vehicle, creating innovation in motion.

One of the greatest challenges when designing the Obama Presidential Center Museum involved ensuring that every audiovisual experience supported the museum's overarching mission of inspiring hope and meaningful reflection.

Rather than approaching technology as the centerpiece, RAA evaluated each exhibit to identify its core message before determining the most effective method of communicating it. Every story required a deliberate balance of content and delivery, whether that meant static interpretive graphics, interactive media, a single audiovisual presentation or a large-scale, multi-projection immersive environment.

This thoughtful, story-first approach recognized that the most impactful communication is not always achieved through the most sophisticated technology. In many instances, a simple audiovisual solution could create a more powerful and personal connection than a highly complex installation. By matching the technology to the intent of each exhibit, the museum ensures that audiovisual systems enhance, rather than compete with, the storytelling.

The result is an experience that improves comprehension, accommodates a variety of learning styles, and fosters lasting emotional connections, allowing every visitor to engage with the museum's message of hope in a way that feels personal, accessible and memorable.

Turning lessons into lived experiences.

The overarching message of the Obama Presidential Center Museum is hope. More than an emotion, hope is presented as a catalyst for action, a force capable of inspiring individuals, strengthening communities and creating meaningful change. Every gallery in the museum is designed to leave guests with the feeling that progress is possible when people choose to participate, persevere and believe in something greater than themselves.

AV technology plays a central role in bringing that message to life. Immersive media surrounds visitors with the voices, stories and moments that defined an era. The layered approach of technology accommodates a wide range of learning styles, ensuring that visitors engage through sight, sound, interaction and reflection. Technology becomes more than a method of presentation, it becomes a bridge between the audience and the experiences, conversations and decisions that shaped a presidency.

By the time visitors leave, the technology fades into the background and the message remains. Hope is no longer simply a theme of the exhibition, it becomes a personal invitation. The museum reminds every guest that history is not written only by presidents or public figures, but by ordinary people willing to take extraordinary steps.

Pushing Progress Forward Through Action.

Toward a More Perfect Union, on the second level of the museum, allows visitors to see what is possible when ordinary people work together to enact change. It explains the progress that is pushed forward through historic movements and moments that shaped Obama’s careers in public service and the rise in their political career.

‘Yes We Can’ celebrates the diverse coalition of people whose passion, determination and activism helped propel Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. Through personal stories, visitors discover the individuals and communities who came together to make the historic election possible. Looped media displays immersive film, photography and multimedia presentations that capture the energy of the campaign, highlighting the defining moments, grassroots efforts and collective spirit that transformed hope into action.

Stories You Experience

The Immersive Stories Behind the Headlines.

‘Working for the Common Good’ explores the challenges President Obama faced upon taking office. Visitors are introduced to a nation grappling with multiple international conflicts and a severe economic recession at home. Through immersive storytelling, the exhibit highlights the landmark legislation, pivotal decisions and transformative policies that shaped the Obama administration and sought to improve the lives of millions of Americans.

The People Stories Media experience brings the impact of President Obama's policies to life through firsthand accounts from individuals and communities whose lives were shaped by his administration. Using motion-sensing technology and immersive 55 inch displays, visitors can explore these personal stories while engaging with the exhibit at their own pace. Separate media presentation chronicles Obama’s journey to developing and implementing these landmark policies, providing a behind the scene look at the administrations most significant achievements.

Obama Presidential Center and Museum

Transforming Holocaust education into a living, mobile experience.

Breaking down barriers to bring history to life.

From venue to vehicle, creating innovation in motion.

Turning lessons into lived experiences.

Pushing Progress Forward Through Action.

The Immersive Stories Behind the Headlines.

How technology is transforming societal impact with mobile learning environments.

Relevant Projects

Our Team