The People’s House: A White House Experience
Leach’s innovative museum graphics and lightboxes bring White House history to life
In September 2024, the White House Historical Association (WHHA) opened a new exhibit in Washington, D.C., ‘The People’s House: A White House Experience’. This experience tells the story of the White House, its residents and those who’ve dedicated their careers to its operations.
This 33,000-square-foot space, just a block from the White House, features nine exhibits and galleries with exhibit design by RAA. Each space uses innovative technology to create an immersive visitor experience.
To execute this project, the WHHA required specialist support from Design & Production (D&P), working under RAA, among others. D&P subcontracted Leach to fabricate museum graphics and lightbox displays to enhance the storytelling experience.
We previously worked with D&P on the Zekelman Holocaust Center in Michigan, and we’re proud to continue our partnership on this landmark exhibit.
Our Project Managers ensured the on-time delivery of all museum graphics and displays for the exhibit. We conducted rigorous colour-matching and sampling to meet the brief before rolling out into production.
The exhibit’s main attraction is a 1:5 scale replica of the White House’s south facade. Behind this facade, visitors discover a 19-bedroom dollhouse enhanced with cinematic lighting, projections and audio narration. We created 24 lightboxes and tension frame displays split across the three levels, each replicating the room’s surroundings.
For tighter spaces, we produced six VF11 wall-mounted lightboxes in discreet sizes of 112 x 364mm to 449 x 386mm. These lightsheets came with printed graphics that, when illuminated, would offer a backlit view that would bring elements of the room to life. A series of suspended tension frames (VF16) were also created to replicate the ceilings of ten rooms in the White House.
All size requirements were met, including the largest lightbox at 1019mm wide and 883/993mm high. We used a 100% recycled eco screen for custom graphics. For the rooms, we created vinyl wall coverings and printed floor vinyl, enhancing the dollhouse’s finishing details.
We were tasked with reproducing the rugs that adorn the Oval Office, State Dining Room and Cabinet Room. Each rug contained an intricate print, which we penetrated deep into the fibres to ensure a long-lasting finish resistant to heavy footfall.
The sheer size of these rugs, which measured impressive sizes of 8902 x 6902mm, meant we had to print several pieces. Once produced, we bound the edges to create the desired size for the exhibits.
To accompany the State Dining Room, we created menus and place cards that matched the original colours. Our team went through several rounds of testing to ensure intricate details, such as the Great Seal of the US, were carefully recreated. All props were mounted to acrylic so fingerprints could be easily cleaned away.
The team built a tactile lightbox with a VFT profile that resembled a stained glass window for the Stories in Objects exhibit. The VFT lightbox profile was created by layering B&W and coloured duratran backlit film between two acrylic sheets.
We applied 19 layers of white ink on the acrylic, creating a raised effect reminiscent of the lead in stained glass. The acrylic’s durability ensured the print stayed intact while visitors interacted with the lightbox. Tactile features, like touch activation, allowed the lightbox to turn on and off effortlessly.
To add to this exhibition’s immersive experience, we produced several book props with enclosed electronics which visitors could pick up to activate nearby digital displays. We created these props out of MDF, bound with faux leather and vinyl pages to maintain durability when touched.
Other props included a hand-finished Corian book, which was fitted with a monitor for visitors to watch. All book pages were laser-etched for added detail.
After final production, we freighted items in batches across the project, which were ready for installation by the D&P team.
Since its opening, The People’s House has been awarded as an outstanding attraction for innovation. Its careful blend of the past and today’s technology allows visitors to experience American history in incredibly immersive ways.
We were honoured to be part of this project and look forward to extending our partnership with D&P for future exhibitions.
Ana D’escrivan‑Nott, Project Manager at Leach, says, “The People’s House project demanded innovation at every turn. Leach’s expertise in large-format print and project management ensured a resounding success. Every detail, from the intricate prop designs to print quality, aligned with the White House Historical Association’s vision.”
Michael Elrod, Director of Graphic Project Management at D&P, adds, “The Leach team was instrumental in turning the near-impossible into reality. Their dedication, service, innovation, and creative problem-solving were essential to the success of this project. We look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of the exhibit industry together.“
Our 130-year industry expertise allows us to deliver on every museum project requirement, regardless of location, size or budget. Contact our team to discuss how we can bring your vision to life.
