Guests at the Gaylord National Resort in Washington, D.C. received a special treat just outside their hotel rooms this holiday season – a 55-foot illuminated Christmas tree that rose 13 stories from the hotel’s lobby level.
Chicago Scenic worked with Hotopp Associates to create the larger-than-life tree that marked the entrance to Gaylord’s annual holiday festival, Christmas on the Potomac.
The tree is made of 11 stacked aluminum stars zipped up in custom-printed opaque fabric, enabling easy installation and dismantling. Fourteen white spandex stars, each outfitted with LED lighting, are mounted to a steel armature to form the tree topper.
More than 2,000 LED video nodes wrap around the tree’s bright red garland, and each node is programmed with RGB video lighting that is run via a hippotizer to change lights with the music. As a final touch, the ornamental stars hanging from the tree’s branches are illuminated and periodically change colors.
In addition to enjoying the tree, guests had the opportunity to decorate gingerbread men, glide down slides made of solid ice, learn about the history of Christmas, and watch ice carving demonstrations.
Chicago Scenic Project Manager Stefan Koniarz managed the project and worked closely with TenFab Design, RGB Lights, Hotopp Associates and the Gaylord Resort to bring the project to life.
