The structure sat quietly inside a massive warehouse at the Port of Hueneme—a blue, metallic barn that most people walked right past. But where others saw a storage shed, the team at Switch Studios, along with NAVSEA and Matter Labs, saw the potential for a new chapter. The mission was clear: create a satellite command center accessible to a wider audience—innovators, students, and civilians—who couldn’t access the secure base. We needed to turn a cold metal box into a space that felt bold, inventive, and alive.
We didn’t just want to renovate the barn; we wanted to transport its visitors. The design concept was to create a modern, immersive environment that breathed the spirit of Fathomwerx—playful, curious, and mission-driven.
Transforming a barn into a high-tech command center on a strict deadline required military-grade precision. With the Annual Fathomwerx Summit 2024 fast approaching, Switch Studios managed a tight four-week timeline to bring the vision to life.
By the time the Summit arrived, the “Blue Barn” had become something no one expected. The lighting, color story, and atmosphere worked together to create a world hidden within a warehouse. More than just an aesthetic triumph, the space became a true bridge—a meeting point where military, academic, and industry leaders could stand on equal ground and build something meaningful.
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