Long before you step inside, the Immersive Vault catches your eye.
Located on the first floor and visible from across the Welcome Hub, the Immersive Vault invites visitors to discover Library and Archives Canada’s (LAC) collections in entirely new ways.
At the heart of the room, a floor-to-ceiling interactive media wall draws people in, revealing stories layer by layer and encouraging exploration. Visitors can zoom in to uncover the brushstrokes of a painting, turn a globe to reveal places and stories that have faded from memory, and play clips from films, newsreels and recordings that bring moments from the past into the present.
Whether you’re introducing grandchildren to a favourite moment in history, sharing a piece of Canada’s past with guests from out of town, or simply following your own curiosity, every visit unfolds differently.
Where every touch sparks discovery
The large-scale interactive media wall transforms the collections into a shared experience. Responsive from just above the floor to as high as visitors can reach, it welcomes many people at once: parents and children can explore side by side, friends can compare discoveries, and school groups can gather around a story that captures their imagination before setting off in different directions to uncover their own.
Rather than following a linear presentation, visitors can discover the collections at their own pace through playful interactive features that reveal new perspectives and unexpected connections. They can explore a book beyond its cover, discovering the intricate beauty of its binding and pages. A 19th-century globe can be spun to reveal a world in which countries and regions had different names, offering a glimpse into how our understanding of place has changed over time. Objects can be rotated, flipped and enlarged to uncover details that might otherwise remain unseen. Each interaction opens a new path of discovery, inviting visitors to follow their curiosity from one storied item to the next and uncover the surprising, beautiful and unexpected materials preserved within LAC’s collections.
A space for exploration, reflection and collaboration
The Immersive Vault becomes a space where stories can be reimagined together, fostering conversation, collaboration and connection. Flexible by design, the space can transform to support many kinds of experiences, from quiet moments of personal exploration to workshops, facilitated programs and collective learning. Modular furnishings allow the environment to evolve, while the media wall opens new possibilities for interpreting LAC’s collections through interactive storytelling, data visualizations and future collaborations.
By bringing together interactive technologies and archival materials, the Immersive Vault transforms LAC’s collections into living experiences where objects, images, voices and memories come together to reveal the many stories that shape Canada’s documentary heritage.