3D LASER CINEMA & BIRDLY VR SOAR INTO CLEVELAND!

Cleveland Museum of Natural History Partners with D3D Cinema to Introduce Immersive Theater and Birdly VR Experiences 

D3D Cinema and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History have joined forces to bring two new, immersive, science-focused storytelling experiences to Museum visitors: a state-of-the-art 3D laser cinema and two Birdly VR flight simulators. Both attractions will open at the Museum on December 7, 2022.

The Museum’s newly upgraded Murch Auditorium 3D cinema will showcase films from D3D’s Cinefolio portfolio, aligned with the Museum’s renowned galleries and curated exhibits. The Museum’s permanent collections include a remarkable array of significant specimens, from dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals to Lucy, the famous early-human ancestor. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History also boasts the holotype skull of Nanotyrannus, making the Museum an important coalition partner for the upcoming Tyrannosaurus production by Giant Screen Films, created in association with leading natural history museums worldwide.

Two Birdly VR units will complement the new cinema. Birdly is a unique full-body, immersive flight-simulator experience designed for museum audiences—a synthesis of haptic engineering, robotics, game design, biomechanics, and virtual reality. The Museum will feature a choice of flying natural history avatars, from pterosaurs to birds, and will host the North American premiere of Butterfly, a new garden/pollinator POV flight simulator using next-level gaming graphics.

“The Museum is currently in the middle of the most dramatic transformation in our more than 100-year history, as we reimagine and expand our gallery spaces. Our new immersive cinema experience and the VR flight simulators will provide us with versatile opportunities to augment our exhibits and engage our guests for years to come,” said Meenakshi Sharma, Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. “We are excited to partner with D3D and bring these enhanced guest experiences to our audience.”

Andy Wood, Senior VP with D3D, said, “We are thrilled to welcome the Cleveland Museum of Natural History into the Cinefolio network and the museum cinema family. One of the top natural history museums in the United States, the Museum packs a powerhouse punch with its collection—and we’re inspired to be producing new film content with its visionary team. It’s been a joy to work together, and we’re honored that they’ve selected D3D experiences to feature at their prestigious museum.”

D3D Cinema (D3D) offers complete digital cinema and virtual-reality solutions and services to museum and attraction industry clients worldwide, providing a unique partnership approach built around five core capabilities – theater design and installation; touring exhibition theaters; cutting-edge Virtual Reality attractions, an award-winning library of giant-screen digital content; and custom signature film production. Comprised of institutional theater specialists, D3D excels in bringing first-to-market immersive cinema technologies to its clients, offering technology-agnostic consultation, strategic planning, installation, operational support and ongoing service. D3D is headquartered in Evanston, IL with offices in the greater New York and Philadelphia areas, Canada and Spain. Visit www.d3dcinema.com.

About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass more than 5 million artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature. Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards nearly 12,000 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.