The Future Arrives in Philadelphia

What do Paris, Shanghai, São Paulo, and Philadelphia have in common you ask?
They are the only 4 cities in the world where  you can experience an exhibition of epic proportions!

Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest building materials companies,
commemorates its 350th anniversary with a never-before-seen global exhibition, Future Sensations.

The exhibit is an immersive experience with 5 distinct “ephemeral pavilions” that will take you on a sensory journey of science, storytelling and art that celebrates the past three and a half centuries and offers glimpses into future innovations that will transform the world.

The touring exhibition makes 4 stops across the globe, including Shanghai, China; São Paulo, Brazil; Paris, France; and Philadelphia – the only tour stop in North America and home of Saint-Gobain’s domestic headquarters…how awesome is that!?

“Philadelphia is honored to serve as the flagship city in North America to help Saint-Gobain commemorate its 350th anniversary and the 15 generations of innovators responsible for the anniversary. There is no mistaking the architectural influence Paris has had on Philadelphia, and now our City has the distinct privilege of hosting the “Future Sensations” exhibition on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, which was modeled on Paris’ own Avenue des Champs-Élysées.”           Mayor Michael A. Nutter

The five distinct light-up “pavilions” weigh between 20 and 50 tons, and are between 13 and 32 feet tall.  “Future Sensations” will take the place of a series of “pop-up weekends” that kicked off The Oval last spring. According to organizers, The Oval will officially open for summer after the exhibit—and Wawa Welcome America—closes.

Saint-Gobain was founded in 1665 and has been involved in building such iconic sights around the world as the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, the glass pyramid at the Louvre and the Statue of Liberty — Saint-Gobain even contributed components to the Mars Rover.

From May 30 to June 6, Future Sensations will take over The Oval, the pop-up park on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, with five enormous 20- to 30-ton pavilions that offer visitors a live digital experience merging 21st-century technology with imaginative arts.

Through science, storytelling and art, each structure will offer a 3D walk-through encounter that — get ready — will be completely free and open to the public.

Four of the pavilions — the Look, Listen, Color and Create pavilions — will travel around the world, each providing a unique and engaging experience that changes during the day, at night and once visitors are inside each structure.

Visitors to the Philadelphia exhibit will have the added experience of a fifth pavilion designed just for this city that’s focused on understanding the vast array of technologies developed in North America, and invites visitors to contribute their own futuristic ideas.
No pics available as of yet!

In addition to the amazing pavilions, the installation will be accompanied by a pop-up beer garden and food trucks — much like the scene Philadelphians flocked to at The Oval last summer.

Presented in collaboration with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Fairmont Park Conservancy, Future Sensations marks the first pop-up at The Oval this season, and is just the start of much more seasonal entertainment on the Parkway.

The Deets…
During the week-long exhibit, the pavilions will be open Tuesday-Saturday, noon-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon-7 p.m.; and Monday, noon-6 p.m. The beer garden will be open Saturday, May 30, noon-10 p.m., Sunday, noon-7 p.m., closed Monday, June 1, and open Tuesday-Friday, 5-10 p.m., and Saturday, June 6, noon-10 p.m.

Get a sneak peek of Future Sensations here and prepare yourself for a Sensational Summer!

Alya