Erie Canal Bicentennial: The Thresholds
Five outdoor installations developed for the 2025 Erie Canal Bicentennial honor the Canal’s enduring impact, and create a deeper sense of place for Buffalo’s revitalized waterfront
Overview
THE OPPORTUNITY
Inspired by structures that once made Buffalo’s Canalside neighborhood one of the busiest, liveliest waterfronts in the world, we were asked to design site-specific installations that invite visitors to discover the multilayered history of Canalside through their personal devices.
THE STRATEGY
The physical design of the Threshold installations allude to the many buildings that once stood along the Canal and encourage visitors to imagine Canalside as it once was, while also reflecting on the impact of the Canal, including on the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island.
THE APPROACH
The eye-catching Threshold installations include visuals projected onto the ground and ambient audio that reflects the theme of each installation, and links out to five short podcast-style programs illuminating different aspects of the area’s history.
Partners
Beautiful Machines, Southern AV
Services
Strategy, Visitor Experience, Experience Design, Exhibit Design, Physical Design, Media Design
The Details
Eye-Catching, Day or Night
The installations are eye-catching during the day and even more so at night, increasing Canalside’s appeal as a destination to tourists and locals alike.
Sightlines Tie The Canalside Together
Our client, the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, spent years revitalizing and beautifying this waterfront neighborhood. The Threshold installations tie the waterfront neighborhood together visually, creating a greater sense of place and cohesion.
Subtle Projections Add Visual Dimension
Projected media adds richness to the site-specific sounds and stories associated with each Threshold. Visitors discover stories about indigenous, Black, and immigrant peoples, the entertainment and vice of the Canal District, and the commerce at the Western Terminus that shaped our world today.
Ambient & Narrative Audio
Visitors hear an ambient soundscape as they approach the Threshold, sparking their curiosity and encouraging them to come closer to listen and discover more. A QR code opens up to a microsite that provides visitors with access to historic photos and audio narration using their own devices.
