SAS UK Conference
Birmingham, November 2007
Click image to view GalleryAfter some initial work for software company SAS earlier in 2007, we were asked by SFL Group to work with them to provide a complete package for the SAS UK conference. As partners in producing the event, Congo Blue Design provided the design input for both the main stage and an exhibition stand, seeing the project through to completion, by managing the building of the main conference set and lighting and also the ‘very’ bespoke exhibition stand for the central hub of the networking arena.
The main stage set comprised a truss structure 4.4m tall x 30m wide. The set housed two giant rear projection screens trimmed in aluminium. The lighting was based around our Chroma Panels providing blocks of colour in a specific layout. Movement was added by 2 dozen Moving Head lights and a selection of generic lanterns, all provided from stock.
As well as providing the truss, motors and rigging to support our lighting, SFL utilised the large grid to support their speaker system. Even with a tiered audience sat 2.5m in the air, not a single one of the 450 seats had an obscured view of the screens.
We constructed a giant SAS logo as a backdrop for the live camera feeds. Each letter weighed nearly 20kg and was individually controlled via our Robe Set Spinners and large amounts of polished steel pipework!
The bespoke Exhibition Stand we provided was more like a sculpture than a set! This was for the central hub of the networking arena. The centre of the design was a 5 metre diameter reception area where guests could receive help, This area was divided into four separate zones, each one designated to a specific area of SAS’s core business. The split was made using large internally lit colour changing pillars, four stood vertically and another four were angled together to create a pyramid of light!
The four vertical pillars also supported large shelves and a host of internal wiring to power and distribute the pair of computer wok stations built into each one. 2 x 19” TFT screens were bolted to the sides of each pillar to display presentations relevant to each of the zones.
In addition to all of this, the whole structure was stood on a raised floor that didn’t have a single straight line in it! This was mirrored above by 26 metres of curved aluminium trussing hung off 16 separate rigging points. Lit with our Source Four Pars and Scrollers, the flown truss was stuffed with 16 LED bricks to light the surrounding pillars.
With access to the room only available at 3am, the whole structure was built, finished & lit in time for the delegates to have an early lunch.
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