FLAGER COLLEGE
A series of interactives designed to highlight the rich historic details in a repurposed gilded age hotel.
The extraordinary art and history of Henry Flagler’s Hotel Ponce de Leon are on full display thanks to Flagler College’s ongoing restorations and public tours.
A series of new interactive displays will further enhance visitors’ connection to this architectural masterpiece and understanding of its historical significance. Through a combination of carefully curated multimedia and low-tech experiences, visitors to the Ponce will discover the stories behind the art and learn the legacy of Henry Flagler that still thrives today.
Interactive displays in the Rotunda will examine the original vision of the building’s creators and the experiences of its early staff and guests. Additional features will enable visitors to explore both the distinctive architectural details and the broader historical context of the Ponce.
Project Credits
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Creative Direction: Roula Tsapalas
Multimedia: Zoe McCarthy
Graphic Design: Elva Dong
3D Design: Paloma Olais and Adam Prost
Sensors and Hardware: Emily Quan
Wayfinding: Madelyn Santa
Content Development: Josh Fienberg
Programming: Jennifer Kubina
Project Management: Bernhard Mueller
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Carole Branson
Nikki Liberatore
Sarah Palmer
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Stained Glass Design Kiosk
Inspired by the intricate beauty of Tiffany stained-glass, visitors are invited to delve into the design and artistry of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s masterpieces. Through user-friendly touch-screen technology, visitors will design their own stained-glass works of art, exploring distinctive patterns and motifs while learning more about Tiffany and his creations.
Animated Portraits
In the Rotunda, two architectural niches feature digital touchscreens where period portraits come to life, allowing visitors to meet historical figures connected to the Hotel Ponce de Leon. Activated by a discreet button panel, each screen presents three characters who step forward one at a time to share short, scripted monologues about their roles in the hotel’s early days, Henry Flagler’s vision, and the artistic, social, and economic forces that shaped the Ponce. When not in use, the displays appear as static portraits, blending seamlessly with the historic setting while offering an engaging, human-centered window into the past.