This year, we had the opportunity to create a custom interactive installation celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Olympic Games in Montréal. Working alongside Montréal Olympique, we designed and built a retro-inspired activation that invited visitors to step back into the energy and atmosphere of the Games that shaped the city.
The project combined historical footage, immersive decor, custom fabrication, interactive elements, and nostalgic storytelling. Seeing people interact with the installation in person was incredibly rewarding, especially knowing how important the 1976 Games remain to Montréal’s identity.
Designing the Experience
From the beginning, the goal was to create something that felt vibrant, playful, and immersive while still paying tribute to the history of the Games.
The installation included several custom-built pieces:
- A large interactive retro television wall
- A custom Olympic cauldron (vasque olympique)
- A free-standing historical photo wall featuring archival imagery from the 1976 Games
- Vintage-inspired decor elements and retro styling
- Interactive screens featuring historical footage and games
The retro TV wall quickly became one of the most eye-catching parts of the activation. Inspired by vintage living rooms from the 1970s, the piece featured multiple embedded CRT televisions surrounding a larger central screen. Visitors could interact with Olympic-themed content while being surrounded by footage and imagery inspired by Montréal’s Olympic history.
The custom-built Olympic cauldron became another major visual centerpiece. Positioned beside the historical wall, it created a strong symbolic connection to the spirit of the Games while helping tie the entire installation together visually.
A Celebration of Montréal’s Olympic Legacy
One of our favourite elements was the large historical collage wall showcasing archival moments from the 1976 Olympics. The imagery helped anchor the installation in real history while still feeling modern and immersive.
The combination of retro textures, colourful graphics, vintage televisions, Olympic imagery, and interactive technology created an environment that encouraged visitors to stop, explore, take photos, and reconnect with an important moment in Montréal history.
Installation at Radio-Canada
Part of the activation was installed at Radio-Canada, where visitors had the chance to experience the interactive retro television wall, take photos with the Olympic cauldron, and see the historical display pieces in person.
Watching people engage with the installation was one of the most rewarding parts of the project. Visitors explored the interactive elements, watched archival footage, and spent time taking in the details built into the experience.
Projects like this are always exciting because they blend storytelling, fabrication, technology, and physical design into something people can genuinely experience together.
Visiting the Installation at Tourisme Montréal’s Lancement d’Été
We also had the chance to visit part of the installation during the Lancement d’été event organized by Tourisme Montréal.
Seeing the retro-inspired Olympic environment integrated into such a vibrant Montréal event was awesome! The installation included the interactive television wall, retro lounge-inspired decor, vintage televisions, Olympic visuals, and colourful international flags suspended throughout the space.
The atmosphere captured exactly what we hoped for: nostalgic, energetic, welcoming, and unmistakably Montréal.
Behind the Build
Every part of this installation was custom built in-house.
From fabrication and structural planning to scenic finishing and installation design, the project involved a significant amount of hands-on construction work behind the scenes. The retro television wall, the Olympic cauldron, and the freestanding scenic elements were all designed and assembled specifically for this activation.
Building immersive experiences like this requires balancing durability, transportation, aesthetics, interactivity, and installation logistics all at once. We spent countless hours designing, testing, assembling, painting, wiring, and refining every detail to make sure the final result felt cohesive and immersive.
One of the most rewarding parts of projects like this is seeing raw materials slowly transform into a fully realized environment.
Creating Interactive Experiences
This project reflects the kind of custom experiential work we love creating.
We build:
- Interactive installations
- Brand activations
- Immersive environments
- Photo opportunities
- Scenic builds
- Retro-inspired sets
- Museum and historical experiences
- Custom event decor
- Corporate activations
Whether it’s a historical tribute, a large-scale public installation, or an interactive branded experience, we love designing environments that encourage people to stop, engage, and remember the experience long after they leave.
A huge thank you to Montréal Olympique, Radio-Canada, and Tourisme Montréal for allowing us to help celebrate such an important moment in Montréal history.
It was an honour to contribute to the 50th anniversary celebrations of the 1976 Olympic Games and to create an experience inspired by one of the city’s most iconic moments.