Location-based experiences
Projection mapping, robotics, and mixed reality. Sound, lighting, sensors, and show control connect what guests see with what happens around them.
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SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA BY APPOINTMENT
FOR BUSINESS / EXPERIENCES, SOFTWARE & AI
Dream Awake Labs
at the Rectangle
Design. Prototype. Deploy.
Location-based experiences, custom software, and AI agents. Developed and tested at The Rectangle in Santa Cruz, then built for your venue or business.
THE RECTANGLE
SANTA CRUZ, CA
MUSIC+MEDIA+TECHNOLOGY+EXPERIENCESTHE RECTANGLE / SANTA CRUZ
WHAT WE BUILD
From prototype
to your venue.
For venue operators, attractions, family entertainment centers, brands, and businesses. Start with a concept, an existing experience, or a technical problem.
Custom software
Operator controls, booking and guest flows, integrations, and the tools your team uses every day. Integrate existing systems or define the setup your project needs.
Learn moreAI agent development
AI characters that respond to guests and guide quests, and agents that screen, route, and follow up on work behind the scenes.
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EXPERIENCE CONCEPTFORMATS
Immersive play.
Family-friendly discovery.
Develop free-roam XR adventures, team challenges, and interactive story worlds—or approachable games, talking characters, and robot encounters for families.
Headset-based or headset-free. Scope the format around your audience, floor space, staffing, and guest throughput.
WORK & PROTOTYPES
Running today.
Built in the lab.
One system runs this website. The others are prototypes in development at The Rectangle, not client installations.
Agentic lead and booking system
The inquiry and booking system behind this website, built by Dream Awake Labs.
- Captures structured inquiries from the site forms and from browser agents.
- Screens each request with an AI decision model for spam, intent, and fit.
- Routes studio bookings and business projects to separate pipelines.
- Keeps CRM records in sync and alerts the team.
- A person approves every request. Approved bookings get a secure deposit link.
Mixed-reality mini-golf
A mixed-reality mini-golf game developed in the lab. A technology demonstrator, not a venue deployment.
- Procedural course generation, so layouts can change between rounds.
- Interactive mixed-reality gameplay.
- Explores AI characters as in-game guides.
- Designed to adapt courses to the size and layout of a location.
Embodied AI characters
Lab work on AI characters people can talk to in a physical space. In development, not a commercial installation.
- Projected and on-screen characters with AI personas.
- Robotics for characters with a physical presence.
- Spatial interaction with the people in the room.
- Quests and guided experiences led by a character.
HOW WE WORK
Build here.
Bring it to your venue.
The Rectangle is our Santa Cruz development and prototyping space. Test the core interaction here before planning the full installation.
Scope
Define the audience, experience, site constraints, budget, and technical risks. Agree on a focused development plan.
Prototype
Build a working interaction at The Rectangle. Playtest, refine, and document what the venue version needs.
Pilot & deploy
Adapt the prototype to your site. Plan hardware integration, installation, operator training, and ongoing support as part of the project scope.
HOW THIS SITE WORKS
Screened by AI. Answered by people.
This site runs on an AI-assisted lead routing system built by Dream Awake Labs. Every inquiry, including this form, is screened and routed automatically, then a person reviews it and replies.
Screened
The model checks each request for spam and reads what it needs: who it is from, how ready they are, and what to do next.
Routed
Studio bookings go to the Rectangle’s booking pipeline. Business projects go to ours, and the team gets an alert.
Confirmed
A person reviews every request and replies. Nothing is booked until we confirm it with you.
FOR BUSINESS
Discuss your project.
Tell us about your venue or business and what you want to build. We’ll discuss scope, timing, and budget.
(831) 607-8735SANTA CRUZ, CA · BY APPOINTMENT
PROJECT QUESTIONS
Working with us.
What happens at a lab demo?
An in-person walkthrough at The Rectangle in Santa Cruz. See the prototypes and the room, and talk through your project. Send a request and we’ll confirm a time.
Can we start with a prototype?
Yes. A focused prototype can test the core interaction before committing to a larger installation.
Can you work with our existing equipment?
We review your hardware, software, and site requirements during scoping to identify what can be reused and what needs development.
Does the experience have to use headsets?
No. Projects can use projection, sound, lighting, robot characters, and physical interaction, with or without XR headsets.
How are deployment and support handled?
Installation, operator controls, training, maintenance, and support are scoped for each venue and agreed before delivery.