OMSI fundraiser gala in Turbine Hall

Image of the auctioneers and Spiderman at the 2022 OMSI Gala in the Turbine Hall

Image of women in fancy ballgowns as part of the theme for the 2022 OMSI gala

Full shot of the Turbine Hall and the 2022 OMSIGala

Image of people sitting at a long table eating dinner during the 2022 OMSI Gala

Client Objective

OMSI’s annual fundraiser gala is a night where Portland shows up for science. The goal for this OMSI fundraiser gala in Turbine Hall was simple to say and hard to execute: create a polished program that feels warm in the room, reads beautifully on camera, and stays steady through a fast moving run of show.

Because the event blends celebration and fundraising, every transition matters. Walk-ons, speeches, video playback, and auction moments all need to land on time. Just as importantly, the technical side cannot feel technical. The audience should feel the momentum, not the machinery.

So we built a plan around reliability and clarity. Screens, lighting, camera coverage, and show playback had to work together like one system, even as content changed and cues moved. The standard was confidence. No last-second surprises, no muddy audio, no “we will fix it later.” Just a clean, controlled experience that let OMSI’s story lead.

Learn more about OMSI at https://omsi.edu/

Benefits and Results

In recent years, OMSI moved the gala into Turbine Hall, which changes how guests see and feel the show. Instead of treating the space like a blank box, we leaned into its scale and built an AV layout that supported the room’s energy without fighting it. As a result, the program stayed legible from every seat, and the production felt intentional rather than improvised.

At the mezzanine tech booth, we routed four Sony 5500 4K cameras for clean coverage and consistent framing. From there, we kept the show flowing with dependable playback and graphics, including lower thirds that stayed readable and on brand. That meant speakers could stay present, the auction could stay crisp, and the room could stay in the moment.

Most importantly, the system supported the mission. With a tight mix of content, cues, and camera coverage, OMSI raised over $1.1 million in a single night, helping fund future programs and projects. The OMSI fundraiser gala worked because the show never competed with the message. It carried it.

Want to plan a gala that feels effortless on show night?

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