Object Project, Place of Invention & Spark
Roto has had the honor of designing and fabricating multiple exhibitions for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History (NMAH) and is particularly proud of its work planning, designing, and building two unique exhibits: Object Project and Places of Invention.
Object Project, part of the West Wing first floor renovation, showcases “everyday objects that changed everything” in American society, including kitchen innovations, household items, apparel, and bicycles. Given its location in a central gathering space, Roto designed a colossal structure around which visitors could circulate. This structure also featured green touch sensors that triggered interactive elements, such as objects spinning, vintage sounds playing, or hidden features being revealed, making the exhibit highly engaging and accessible.
Places of Invention, located in the Smithsonian's Lemelson Center, explored historical hot spots of innovation like Hartford in the 1880s and Silicon Valley in the 1970s. Roto designed and built six pods, each highlighting a specific story of invention with interactive elements allowing visitors to engage in the inventive process. Roto's design-build methodology ensured seamless integration of objects, stories, and media, creating highly immersive and educational guest experiences.
