Immersive storytelling at Expo 2025: "WATCHOUT gave us everything we needed to deliver this project—from image quality and reliable synchronization to the seamless integration of audio, video, and lighting for a high-level production."
Expo 2025 Osaka: Delivering the full audio-visual-lighting infrastructure for the Portugal Pavilion pushed the boundaries of what a tightly integrated AV system can do — and what a determined team can achieve under pressure. Onprojecoes (ON), the Brazilian/Portuguese company responsible for the pavilion’s complete AV integration and daily operation, faced everything from logistical challenges and extreme weather to multilingual coordination across disciplines. For flawless playback of the immersive narrative, the team chose WATCHOUT.
The Portugal Pavilion at Expo 2025 embraces the theme "Ocean, The Blue Dialogue", engaging visitors with a sensory exploration of the ocean and Portugal’s maritime heritage.The 1,836 sqm pavilion is divided into two main areas, both of which use WATCHOUT. In the immersive core, Room 2, the remit was to synchronize sixteen projectors and four audio channels. Room 1 features playback over five Optoma 4K projectors with six audio channels, and integration with the lighting system.
The culmination of the visitor experience, Room 2 is an immersive space whose curved walls and low ceiling created a particularly demanding projection environment. Here, ON used a fully 3D-modeled workflow in WATCHOUT, synchronizing 16 Barco G62-W9 laser projectors and lighting effects to create a seamless underwater landscape.
“Several features were key in our decision to use this software,” explains ON's Luis Fernando Azeredo Lopes de Jesus, the AV technician responsible for system configuration/programming. “First and foremost was its ability to deliver high-quality video playback. WATCHOUT also supports 3D mapping of immersive environments, which was essential due to the complexity and curved shape of the room. Additionally, it allows multiple synchronized operations, which is something we needed for seamless interaction between video, ten audio outputs, DMX, and NDI.”
The team used high-performance servers equipped with RTX A2000 cards, communicating over a 10G SFP network in the AV setup.
“WATCHOUT software stood out for its flawless synchronization capabilities, operating without loss of sync or the need for frequent realignment or maintenance. WATCHOUT gave us everything we needed to deliver this project—from image quality and reliable synchronization to the seamless integration of audio, video, and lighting for a high-level production," concludes Luis Fernando Azeredo Lopes de Jesus.
A showcase of technical expertise, the Portugal Pavilion also illustrates how integrated AV systems can elevate storytelling on a global platform, transforming complex themes into shared experiences.
There's still time to see the Portugal Pavilion live: Expo 2025 Osaka ends its six-month run on October 13, 2025.
