Zephyr · MSI Chicago

The Pioneer Zephyr is a 1934 stainless steel train, installed permanently at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The commission was to create a complete sonic environment for the exhibit, with music and sound design running across multiple screens along the length of the train, and a separate 180-degree immersive film at the rear viewing carriage.

The screens along the train carry a continuous moving landscape: countryside, weather, terrain, giving passengers the impression the train is still in motion. The sound is abstract, spatial, built around the sensation of movement and distance rather than literal representation. Audio runs across multiple speakers along the train's full length, with the landscape and sound shifting together.

At the rear, the 180-degree film takes the journey further: a full animated sequence of the Zephyr travelling through different American landscapes and weather conditions. This section carries a complete orchestral and electronic score.