Category: News

New National Museum Designed and Produced by Thinkwell Is Dedicated to Telling the Story of the Nation’s Oldest Law Enforcement Agency

 

FORT SMITH, Ark., July 06, 2023 — Thinkwell Group (A TAIT Company), a leading design and production agency creating immersive, content-driven experiences for brands and companies around the world, celebrates the opening of The U.S. Marshals Museum (USMM) in Fort Smith, Arkansas, a highly interactive and engaging museum experience that tells the story of the Marshals.The museum is located on the historic banks of the Arkansas River where legendary deputy Marshals such as Bass Reeves and the Three Guardsmen once crossed from the Federal court in Fort Smith into the western territories, bringing law and justice to the frontier.

“The story of the U.S. Marshals is the story of America–of struggling to live up to the ‘glorious promise’ of the Constitution,” says Cynthia Sharpe, Senior Principal at Thinkwell and Executive Creative Director on the project. “We had to create a space in which guests could engage with some really challenging moments in the nation’s history, but also balance it with the fun and larger-than-life stories of the U.S. Marshals Service.”

Six immersive exhibit zones populate the 53,000 square foot (4926 sq./m) star-shaped building, which is inspired by the shape of the U.S. Marshals badge. These six zones showcase the Marshals’ vital work in upholding the rule of law, driven by justice, integrity and service. The central hub of the museum features a flickering campfire scene where four Marshals from different eras retell key milestones of the U.S. Marshals’ history.

Other exhibit highlights include a recreation of an old west frontier town featuring a historically accurate U.S. Marshal’s office and saloon where guests learn the story of the first U.S. Marshals appointed by President Washington as they turn the pages of “The First Lawmen” interactive book. Inside the saloon, guests have the opportunity to play the interactive “Icons of the Old West” card game as well as engage with the friendly bartender. When learning about the work and training of the agency today, guests participate in the “To Carry a Badge” interactive fugitive chase simulation, which is inspired by real training technologies used by the Marshals and other U.S. law enforcement agencies.

“It’s the attention to detail that sets The U.S. Marshals Museum apart,” said Chuck Roberts, senior art director at Thinkwell. “It paints a vivid, living picture of the oft-unknown history of the Marshals. To bring a story like this to life with the latest design thinking and an innovative approach to the media and digital interactives has been a special achievement for our global teams, and we are thrilled to now share this work with the public.”

The USMM officially opened to the public on Saturday, July 1, 2023. For more information, please visit usmmuseum.org.

Milestone promotions of industry veterans Cynthia Sharpe, Tina Blakeney, Anne-Laurence Dubois, and Claudine Hubert highlight growth and positive change across Thinkwell’s global teams.

 

Los Angeles, CA: Thinkwell recently announced milestone promotions for Cynthia Sharpe, Tina Blakeney, Anne-Laurence Dubois, and Claudine Hubert as the company continues to expand its global portfolio and creative services under TAIT. With these promotions, leadership teams at Thinkwell and TAIT are celebrating the strong team guidance, client partnership, and years of dedication that these individuals have brought to the company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cynthia Sharpe, previously a Principal at Thinkwell Group with a focus on Cultural Attractions, steps into the new role of Senior Principal. Tina Blakeney, previously Director of Production for Thinkwell in Montréal, is newly appointed to Principal with a focus on Global Project Development, and Anne-Laurence Dubois moves from Producer into the role of Executive Producer, also out of Montréal.

Another key promotion out of Thinkwell’s Montréal studio will see Claudine Hubert step into the role of Director, People, North America for TAIT beginning May 1, providing leadership and support to better serve the global TAIT organization and Thinkwell’s creative studio teams. 

All of these promotions reflect Thinkwell’s growth following its acquisition by TAIT in early 2022, with global team size up 30% compared to one year ago. The acquisition paved the way for expanded offerings and increased collaboration between geographically dispersed teams across Thinkwell and TAIT Group global locations, which will continue to accelerate moving into 2024.

For Sharpe, reflecting on nearly two decades of work at Thinkwell, the shift represents deeply rewarding, hard-earned change and growth that the company has worked together to realize. “Part of what I’ve loved about working at Thinkwell is that I’ve had the opportunity to create incredible guest experiences worldwide and help the company grow and evolve. I’m so excited to continue that work across TAIT’s global footprint, helping to build a more inclusive, healthy future for our industry and people, all while making incredibly awe-inspiring experiences.”

“Anne-Laurence, Tina, and Claudine are strong examples of the skill and leadership that we pride ourselves on, and they have been invaluable to our team’s development and growth,” says Hugues Sweeney, President of Thinkwell’s Montréal studio.

Adds Sweeney: “We’re all looking forward to how much the entire TAIT organization will benefit from their vision and expertise.” 

Joe Zenas, CEO of Thinkwell, echoes this enthusiasm, adding that the new role of Senior Principal will be critical to Thinkwell as it deepens its integration with TAIT. “Cynthia continues to be an amazing asset to the organization, providing focused leadership and guidance to Principals while also serving as a strategic partner to our Production Studio teams, leadership teams, and clients,” Zenas explains. “We’re thrilled to celebrate these promotions and look forward to what each of these leaders will add to our long-term strategic thinking and growth.” 

 

​​About TAIT

TAIT sets the standard for world-class live experiences, bringing extraordinary ideas to life, collaborating on visionary concepts, and delivering precision engineering, technical innovation, manufacturing, and production. With industry leading show control and automation technology, a global team of more than 1500 employees in 20 offices oversee the creation of complex movement for artists, brands, performing arts spaces, and venues in over 30 countries, all seven continents, and even outer space. The award-winning company’s clients include Taylor Swift, Cirque Du Soleil, The Metropolitan Opera House, NASA, National Geographic, Beyoncé, and The Olympics. In addition to the core custom project business, the TAIT Group consists of like-minded companies operating as one cohesive team in the live experience space including productionglue, Kinesys, ITEC Entertainment, and Thinkwell Group. For more information, please visit: www.taittowers.com

Cette transaction va positionner TAIT comme le développeur d’expériences du divertissement, de spectacles et d’univers corporatifs le plus important au monde.

LITITZ, Pa. et LOS ANGELES: Le groupe international TAIT, composé d’ingénieurs créatifs, de fabricants, de producteurs et de technologues pour les environnements du spectacle et de la performance, a annoncé aujourd’hui l’acquisition du groupe Thinkwell, une agence mondiale experte en expériences visiteurs spécialisée dans la planification, la conception et la production d’univers physiques et numériques pour les parcs à thème, les musées et les espaces corporatifs. Thinkwell rejoint le groupe TAIT afin d’établir une nouvelle norme industrielle et positionner TAIT comme le développeur d’expériences du divertissement, de spectacles et d’univers corporatifs avec les capacités de création et de fabrication les plus importantes au monde. 

En activité depuis 1978, TAIT est leader international dans le monde du spectacle. Les divers marchés de TAIT comprennent les parcs à thème, les théâtres, les bateaux de croisière, les concerts et les expériences corporatives avec des clients de marque allant de Princess Cruises, Fortnite World Cup et U2 à Disney, Universal et les Jeux Olympiques. Au cœur de ses services se trouve le TAIT Navigator, une plateforme propriétaire de contrôle et d’automatisation de spectacles qui maximise la vision créative du client.

Depuis plus de 20 ans, Thinkwell a créé près de 2000 expériences immersives dans 28 pays du monde entier. L’entreprise compte parmi ses clients Warner Bros., Universal Studios, Google, Lionsgate, la Smithsonian Institution et le Cirque du Soleil. Thinkwell a des bureaux à Los Angeles, Montréal et Abu Dhabi ainsi que des équipes et collaborateurs partout dans le monde. Composée du chef de la direction Joe Zenas, du chef de l’exploitation et des finances, François Bergeron, et du chef de la création Craig Hanna, l’équipe de direction restera au sein de l’entreprise et se concentrera sur le service exceptionnel de classe mondiale qui a fait la réputation de Thinkwell.

Grâce à la complémentarité de leur culture et de leurs compétences en matière de design expérientiel et de gestion de la clientèle, ce partenariat offre une occasion unique aux deux entreprises de connaître une croissance importante et soutenue. Profitant de l’élan de sa récente acquisition d’ITEC Entertainment, cette nouvelle alliance permettra à TAIT de renforcer ses capacités en conception, en création, en production média et en interactivité en plus de lui offrir une exposition accrue à des opportunités de grande envergure en LBE (location based entertainment).

«Nos équipes incroyablement talentueuses ont créé pendant des décennies des expériences des plus engageantes et des plus dynamiques pour des dizaines de marques et de propriétés intellectuelles du monde entier», a déclaré Joe Zenas, PDG du groupe Thinkwell. «Les talents de classe mondiale et l’extraordinaire porte-folio de projets de Thinkwell combinés avec la vision ambitieuse de TAIT sont une progression naturelle pour étendre notre empreinte mondiale et élargir la portée des deux entreprises.»

«La réputation de confiance de Thinkwell, son talent exceptionnel et son vaste porte-folio sont appréciés par nous tous chez TAIT», a déclaré Adam Davis, PDG du groupe TAIT. «Ensemble, nous inaugurons une nouvelle ère pour l’industrie du divertissement, du spectacle et du location based entertainment (LBE).» 

 

 

À propos de TAIT 

TAIT crée des moments qui font bouger les gens. Nous donnons vie à des idées extraordinaires, en collaborant à leur conception en fournissant l’ingénierie, l’architecture et une fabrication de précision. Grâce à notre propre technologie de contrôle et d’automatisation des spectacles, nous orchestrons les mouvements complexes des artistes, des marques et des lieux de spectacle du monde entier. Nous sommes une équipe mondiale d’ingénieurs créatifs, de fabricants, de producteurs et de technologues pour les environnements du spectacle et de la performance. Depuis plus de 40 ans, nous créons des expériences de divertissement révolutionnaires en engageant et en cultivant les meilleurs talents et technologies du secteur. Avec plus de 900 employés répartis dans 17 bureaux, nous avons réalisé des projets dans plus de 30 pays, sur les 7 continents et même dans l’espace. Nous comptons parmi nos clients Taylor Swift, le Cirque du Soleil, Nike, le Metropolitan Opera House et la NASA. Pour plus d’informations, consultez le site www.taittowers.com.  

 

À propos du groupe Thinkwell

Thinkwell Group est une agence mondiale de conception et de production d’expériences avec des studios et des bureaux à Los Angeles, Montréal et Abu Dhabi. Depuis 20 ans, l’équipe multidisciplinaire a créé des expériences fascinantes pour un large éventail de clients et de marques à travers le monde. L’équipe créative de Thinkwell apporte une vaste expérience dans la stratégie, la planification, la conception et la production de parcs à thème, de centres de villégiature, d’attractions majeures de marque et de propriété intellectuelle, d’événements et de spectacles mémorables, de musées et d’expositions, d’expositions et de divertissement en direct. L’entreprise primée est devenue un chef de file en design expérientiel par une approche holistique et unique à chaque intervention. Thinkwell a récemment livré le pavillon des États-Unis à l’Expo 2020 de Dubaï. Pour plus d’informations, visitez www.thinkwellgroup.com.

Global experience design firm Thinkwell Group was selected by the U.S. Department of State to deliver a turnkey design and produce the USA Pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai. The Pavilion, which debuted October 1st, 2021, presents visitors with the story of innovation in the United States. The Pavilion will be open to the public until March 31st, 2022, at the first world expo to be hosted in the Middle East.

Thinkwell collaborated with the U.S. Department of State to create the central theme for the Pavilion and its exhibits, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of the Future.” The pavilion spans over 4,000 square meters (43,000 sq. ft) and takes visitors on a journey celebrating the past, present, and future of American innovation through seven exhibits featuring national artifacts such as Thomas Jefferson’s personal copy of the Quran, a scaled replica of the Statue of Liberty’s torch, a touchable lunar sample, and a model of the Mars Opportunity Rover. A full-scale replica of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands 137 feet (42 meters) tall just outside the pavilion. A light show projected on the exterior of the rocket allows the rocket to dramatically document the story of America’s space exploration to “blast off” each night.

The USA Pavilion features multiple innovations, including a first-of-its-kind moving sidewalk that transports visitors of all ages and abilities on a winding journey through the first three exhibits. A signature multimedia presentation titled “The Sky Is No Longer the Limit” is the first production of its kind to use Black 3.0, the world’s most light-absorbent black acrylic paint. This presentation explores futuristic topics such as quantum computing and the democratization of space, and takes place 39 feet (12 meters) above visitor’s heads using 15 projectors that project dimensional scenes on elements suspended in the ceiling that glide into the room, including astronauts, spacecraft, and a 16 foot (5 meter) sphere that when lit up becomes the moon, Mars, and more. While the projectors paint the room in an array of colors, 70 QSC speakers and 3 QSC subwoofers–each independently controlled by a spatial sound system–deliver three-dimensional sound.

Additional presentations in the pavilion include a 59 foot (18 meters) long curving bas relief mural mapped with projected video that highlights American inventions that have conveyed to the world many modern conveniences including communications, electrification, and transportation. Another presentation features several towers of stacked, rotating media cubes that introduce diverse voices and faces from several of today’s up-and-coming American companies and innovators who are working to broaden their outreach to communities lacking access to today’s services around the world.

“After a year’s delay from a global pandemic, there has never been a more important time for the world to come together for a World Expo to explore the possibilities of what our collective future could look like,” said Thinkwell’s Chief Creative Officer Craig Hanna. “Thinkwell is honored to work with the U.S. Department of State and our many partners and collaborators in telling this next chapter of the story of the future for the United States with this innovative pavilion.” 

Thinkwell provided show, exhibit, media, and interactive design, along with production and installation services as part of the firm’s turnkey services throughout the pavilion, incorporating skills and talents of Thinkwell Studio Montréal and Thinkwell Media. As a part of the full team of global collaborators, Thinkwell is proud to have developed a unique, engaging experience for the millions of visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai.