TEAMNet Partner, Ohio, Mills James Productions, recently completed work on several interactive displays featured at the Columbus Zoo’s new Polar Frontier exhibit, the world’s largest polar bear habitat.

Working with Dayton, Ohio-based Display Dynamics, Mills James produced five exhibit stations that educate and inform participants about wildlife in the Polar Regions and the people who study it. The exhibits include: Pledge Station, Scientist Stations, Eye of the Arctic, Living Room, and Time Clocks.

“The client needed interactive exhibits that would engage visitors and provide them with a fun way to learn about arctic wildlife and the scientists that research it,” said Noell Wolfgram Evans, one of the project’s producers. “The result is a very hands-on experience where visitors can interact and see real-life examples of life that exists thousands of miles from Columbus.”

Mills James worked closely with Display Dynamics in conceptualizing the exhibits, each with a specific purpose and visitor goal. The Pledge Station provides the zoo with the opportunity to collect email addresses in an attempt to extend the experience and information outside of the exhibit space. The Scientist Stations provide an intimate touch-screen experience, and the content being viewed is also seen on a mirror monitor so that the stations can be used with large groups and in educational settings. The Eye of the Arctic utilizes satellite imagery video projected on an eight-foot screen to show the regression of the polar ice across the past twenty years.

Polar Frontier is a state-of-the-art interactive exhibit that is home to two polar bears, two
Alaskan brown bears and an Arctic fox. Their new 1.3-acre yard is specially designed to be the ultimate polar bear habitat, with lots of rocks, two pools, smell ports, dig pits and shelters.   The still pool contains approximately 167,000 gallons of water and has areas where guests can view the bears from above, at eye level and from below.

Mills James Productions is TEAMNet’s film and video production and technology expert, providing a broad range of services.