Atlas 9

Atlas9 is a pioneering immersive art experience with its flagship location set in the heart of the Midwest. Using the surreal remains of a transformed ’90s movie theater backdrop, the experience leads the participant into a layered world of storytelling, interactive technology, and cinematic design. Character studies, plot, and end-user engagement must be cohesively synchronized to both entice engagement and stimulate imagination and physical interactions.

Designing a space and activating a storyline from concept to completion required an ambitious vision and the ability to turn it into reality. This required the project team to deliver everything from storyline concepts and master planning to facility construction and artist integration. Functioning as a true design-build project, construction often accelerated ahead of concept development, resulting in spatial reconfigurations and adjustments. The story development team had to ensure clear communication with the construction team to convey design changes and revisions in real time and to capture them both physically and in as-built documents. All the while, the hard-set “Grand Opening” date was counting down.

The project required intensely customized design elements achieved by integrating custom architectural elements with high-performance materials and advanced audiovisual systems. Every detail was executed with precision and durability. The combination of traditional construction methods and advanced technology enabled the team to create a foundation strong enough to support the complexity of the experience while remaining flexible enough to adapt to future needs. The result is a trailblazing destination in the heart of Kansas City, where bold design, technical integration, and expert craftsmanship converge to deliver an unforgettable, interactive theater experience.