Chicago Scenic drives up the excitement levels for GM, Toyota and Dodge at 2008 Detroit and Chicago auto shows
Chicago Scenic helped two automakers dazzle the press at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

CSSI’s new automation system literally took center stage at General Motors’ press event. “We designed this easily transportable, highly reliable system for exactly this type of event. It required multiple points of movement from a single integrated device which the system handled seamlessly,” said CSSI Project Manager Ross Hamilton.

Working with Clear!Blue and Designer Duke Durfee, CSSI provided a three-foot-thick, 70-foot-wide, 16-foot-tall wood and steel curved header wall that topped off GM’s set. CSSI’s automation system flew a masking wall within the header, revealing an LED projection screen. The system also controlled two of CSSI’s 18-foot, 10,000-pound capacity turntables, one of which is the new 8-inch-high low-profile model. One edge of the raised turntable surround was able to drop down to stage level, creating a ramp for a car to drive off of it and on to center stage. Chicago Scenic provided other elements of the set, including a 200-foot-long translucent back wall, the highly detailed step units that led up to the stage and the press risers.

CSSI worked with experiencial marketing agency George P. Johnson on two events for Toyota at the Detroit auto show that shared a common theme: going green. Toyota takes this very seriously, which meant that all of the elements of the design had to be made of recycled materials or be recyclable after the show.

Toyota’s first event featured the A-BAT, a concept car that is a hybrid both in terms of its energy consumption and its car-meets-truck styling. The set’s tracking front wall was made of aluminum while the back wall was made from wood (an inherently biodegradable material) and recycled cardboard. In addition, a cardboard car cover tracked open to reveal the vehicle. The second Toyota event was a press conference announcing the Venza, a sedan-SUV crossover. The front wall, made from bamboo pulp, split apart at the command of CSSI’s automation system to reveal the new car. The back wall was also made from earth-friendly bamboo.

At the Chicago Auto Show, CSSI provided a kabuki drop, press risers, pole and drape and car covers to producer Clear!Blue for its reveal of the Dodge Challenger.

Boxing Association hosts world championships in Chicago
The Amateur International Boxing Association World Championships were held in Chicago late last year, in what the City of Chicago hopes was a dress rehearsal for the 2016 Olympics. With 557 boxers from more than 100 countries, this was the perfect event to show the world that Chicago can effectively host a large sporting event.

Chicago Scenic provided a rental set and a 20-foot turntable for the event’s opening ceremonies, which were held at the Chicago Theatre and produced by Jack Morton Worldwide. Given the organic nature of the event and its short turnaround time, CSSI opened its doors to give the event’s producers a space to develop and rehearse the show.
CSSI also created five larger-than-life “bronze” boxer statues that were placed in prominent locations throughout the city to promote the event. The statues were featured in last quarter’s newsletter and can still be seen on CSSI’s website,
www.chicagoscenic.com.

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