b'72 IAH INFO TECHNOLOGYGentilhomme worked with several local PHOTO: FORD AV artists to create time-lapse video of blank walls being transformed into a colorful mural, ultimately for digital presentation. That one is kind of interesting because we wanted a one-to-one ratio [with the dimensions of the Oculus], Duverneix shares. So, we had to find a place that would be big enough to do that. Over four days, local artists Anat Ronen, Floyd Mendoza, Jessica Rice, GONZO247, Lee One and the artist named Black created a single continuous mural on the walls of an unused tunnel at the airport. It was crazy, but its a lot of fun, Duverneix remarks.To incorporate the performing arts, The Oculus is located between the ticketing Gentilhomme collaborated with Vitacca and baggage claim levels, visible to passengersBallet of Houston. A choreographed and the general public.performance looks like it occurred in front of the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall, place-making and identity and part of theOne of the interactive scenes propelsa well-known local fountain. But the architecture, but also to create dynamicvisitors into imagery that looks like a poolproject team actually filmed dancers in an content that will adapt to the buildingof marbles. As you walk by, you becomeextended reality studio and then merged and the surrounding conditions, explainsa giant ball, and that ball pushes the otherthat footage with video of the Waterwall Duverneix, who led the conceptualization,balls, Duverneix describes. It createsthat was shot on location. production and integration of visualthis playful physics moment whereAnother key sequence pays homage content. everybody can engage. Gentilhommeto Houstons aerospace legacy through The studios mantra for the projectdesigners intentionally kept the level ofcomputer-generated imagery depicting was Vision is in the airthe Oculus as ainteractivity subtle to prevent crowding orthe evolution of space exploration. That looking glass into the past, present andbottlenecks beneath the display. content was created in coordinationfuture of Houston.Other generative scenes respond towith NASA. Gentilhomme produced 29 originallocal temperature, weather data, seasons and light levels, allowing the displayPublic Accesspieces of content, totaling 135 minutesNotably, the Oculus is located on the of video. The collection ranges fromto evolve organically with the current environment. Its passive content thatlandside of Terminal E. For Warren, that computer-generated and mixed-mediapublic exposure is exciting because most compositions to cinematic live-actionis ambient but thats going to react with external data, Duverneix explains. of Ford AVs other airport installations are scenes. Sequences include artisticbehind TSA checkpoints, and many of murals literally erupting with color, flowingThis deep level of customizationits other complex projects are in private video of local landscapes and imagesmakes the Oculus truly one of a kind, hefacilities. Anybody that wants to see and that convey Houstons pivotal role inemphasizes. Its very elegant, Duverneixexperience the Oculus can just show space exploration. adds. The way its been integratedup, he says. You dont need to spend a Compelling form and contentwithin the architecture works very well.bunch of moneyyou can just show up notwithstanding, interactivity is whatI think its going to set a new standardand come see how cool it is.really sets the Oculus apart from digitalin place making in entertainment and transportation hubs. Because the new display is visible to installations at other airports. Two LIDARall arriving and departing passengers as sensors mounted on opposite sides continuously scan the floor below andLocal Inspiration well as the general public, inclusivity was The visual content highlights the culture,essential. Duverneix notes that content generate a live movement tracking ofwas intentionally designed to avoid quick people under the Oculus, including theirgeography and spirit of Houston. Aerial drone footage captures the downtownflickers or abrupt cuts that could trigger individual positions and heights. Thatthose with photosensitivity. When you data drives real-time effects throughskyline in sweeping 360-degree motion. Other sequences explore logistics hubstreat content as a piece of architecture, Unreal Engine, using Gentilhommesyoure trying to make people forget or not in-house Unreal plugin, which are thenat the port, birds flocking in the regions expansive skies, and fields of bluebonnetseven recognize that its a screen, he says. rendered simultaneously across the six Pixera servers. (the state flower).January | February 2026AirportImprovement.com'