Immersive Tech @ Casa Loma

​Join us at Casa Loma for an event focused on immersive technology, exploring how embedded microcontrollers can enhance the escape room experience through innovative sound design and interactive elements. We'll also discuss the softer skills that help hardware work in heritiage venues.

​Panelists

​Ryan Andal, a 20-year veteran in entertainment and technology, co-founded Secret Location in 2008, a studio that won 2 Emmys and 11 Canadian Screen awards, navigating it through acquisitions by Entertainment One in 2016 and Hasbro in 2019. After Secret Location's closure in 2022, Andal relaunched it in 2023 as an Immersive Entertainment Studio and partnered with Illuminarium Experiences to open a new immersive venue at Toronto’s Distillery Historic District. He continues to pioneer storytelling at the intersection of mobile gaming, virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence.

​Zain Siddiqui has over a decade of expertise in business operations and immersive entertainment. He co-owned Dream Escape for over five years here in Toronto which operated as an escape room, lounge, and event venue. Currently, he is the co-founder of Fabricats, a fabrication and design studio in Toronto that specializes in immersive experiences, with an emphasis on creative applications of technology. Zain and his team have produced escape rooms, museum exhibits, film and television props, and high-end product displays in over a dozen locations across Canada and the United States. He specializes in in 3D design, software development, and electronics. Zain continues to innovate in creating engaging, extraordinary experiences across Canada.

​Patrick Keenan, a Senior Product Designer at Meta, specializes in AI, augmented reality, and spatial computing, with a career spanning graphic design, startup ecosystems, and major tech firms like Google and Sidewalk Labs. He co-founded Secret City Adventures in Toronto, creating immersive theatrical escape rooms and experiences, and has contributed to innovative projects like Facebook Events and location-based services. With a BDes from York University and an MBA from Oxford, Keenan is passionate about real-time collaboration and dreams of developing immersive audio adventures and interactive social platforms.

Core Topic: Learn the fundamentals of building and integrating microcontrollers to create dynamic sound effects and responsive environments, unlocking new levels of immersion for players.

Technology in Action: Discover how cutting-edge technology can transform traditional escape rooms into fully immersive adventures, with practical insights into enabling seamless player interaction and engagement.

Panel Discussion: Engage with a diverse group of panelists, including tech experts and game designers, as they share their perspectives on advancing immersion through technology, offering inspiration and actionable ideas.

Bonus Perk: Ticket options are being considered, potentially including admission to one of Casa Loma’s thrilling escape room games, giving attendees a chance to experience immersive tech firsthand.

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​We are officially part of Toronto Tech Week 2025, a weeklong citywide collection of events to connect and celebrate the builders. June 23 → June 27, 2025 | torontotechweek.com.