The National Geographic Society has announced the National Geographic Museum of Exploration which officially opened to the public on June 26, 2026, following an extensive, multi-year transformation of its campus in Washington, D.C. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to ignite curiosity and illuminate the wonders of our world through cutting-edge technology, immersive experiences, and National Geographic’s photography.
In collaboration with its Montreal-based creative partner, Moment Factory, the Society has enlisted audio-visual engineering leader Videlio-HMS (VHMS) to deliver the full scope of technical execution for the highly anticipated inaugural exhibit, “Photo Ark: Animals of Earth.” VHMS is responsible for the engineering, fabrication, installation, integration, programming, and commissioning of all exhibit systems.
Debuting in the museum’s South Gallery, “Photo Ark: Animals of Earth” presents a visually stunning and deeply impactful display of the National Geographic Photo Ark’s signature photography, a multiyear documentary project by renowned National Geographic Explorer, photographer, and Photo Ark founder Joel Sartore. Over the past two decades, Sartore has undertaken a global mission to document every species possible—large and small—with the goal of inspiring conservation and showcasing a world worth protecting. Following its debut, the exhibition will travel to partner museums worldwide.
To bring the exhibit to life, VHMS leveraged strategic partnerships with leading manufacturers including Panasonic, QSC, PureLink, Pixera, LG, Luminex, Nexo, Yamaha, GrandMA, and Chauvet, among others. The immersive environment features Pixera media servers powering 30 Panasonic projectors and a suite of LG 4K UHD displays. Together, these elements create a dynamic visual experience that transforms the gallery into a sweeping showcase of Sartore’s work across walls and floors.
The installation also includes more than 50 Chauvet LED stage lights—ranging from fresnels to ellipsoidals and strip lighting—alongside over 50 Yamaha and Nexo speakers and subwoofers strategically distributed throughout the space to deliver a rich, enveloping audio experience.
VHMS completed the installation and configuration of all systems ahead of Moment Factory’s on-site production phase, ensuring optimal use of time for final creative integration.
