How to build an affordable Projection Dome

In the last few years we have seen the rise in the use of projection for events and gatherings. In short, the reason for this rise is due to the effectiveness projection has in delivering vibrant colors and immersive experiences. Projection is an easier way to have a full VJ set through the use of projectors instead of a light stage. We have seen massive venues, like the Tropicana in Las Vegas use projection mapping to blow away guests with incredibly spectacular shows. If you want to do projection mapping, but are unsure of your space now you can use a dome. Geodesic or inflatable domes are capable of creating seamless immersive experiences by using full surrounding 360 projecting inside the structure.  

(Photo of Projection Dome for yoga event for Capital One Source: Lumen and Forge)

Advantages of domes

Domes have been used for a long time in part due to their benefits. Most architectural structures’ lifetimes can be measured decades whereas a typical dome’s lifetime is measured in centuries. Domes due to their shape have natural resistance to wind, earth, water, and fire. A perfect example was during hurricane Franics in Florida when a dome house built on the waterfront was one of the only surviving buildings. Internal framing not only supports the structure but all equipment needed to ensure the production is the best quality it can be. 

Types of Domes

The size of the domes themselves range for each application. Domes can come relatively small at 3 meters for use at a trade show or small events creating a personalized experience to connect with a guest. These sizes can range as large or small as needed to make sure you have the perfect dome for the occasion. These spaciously created venue’s interior walls are covered in the same material that movie theaters use for their screens to have crisp clean projection. Specialized technicians can look over any area and recommend the correct sized dome that will suit the occasion best. 

(Picture of VJ booth for 2020 Superbowl worlds largest projection dome Source: Lumen and Forge) 

Setup

The setup time required can be different depending on the location of the venue or the size of the dome. A 10 foot dome accommodating for 5 people can take 2 technicians 3 hours to assemble while a 70 foot dome made for upward of 600 guests from start to final production ready requires at most 14 hours to build.  These intricate builds can be brought and assembled anywhere in only a matter of hours for a fraction of the cost of the traditional venue counterparts. The larger the dome needed the longer time required, but other factors play a part, like location of the build or manpower required.Once built the digital artists take over and project their creations onto the interior surfaces of the dome. This creates a space of full 360 projection that is unlike any other display. 

Cost & Conclusion

The cost required to build a projection dome can vary depending on what sized dome or where the location is at, like an island. In comparison to a traditional venue setup or the cost to build a location, projection domes are much cheaper. Cost of building a location can cost upwards to millions while a dome venue even on a large scale will cost a fraction of that cost. The cost of production comes from the creation of custom content that will be projected onto the surfaces of the dome. Affordability comes from being prepared with your projection dome specialists so they can tailor the experience to you on time at an inexpensive rate.