Ford Stages Spectacular Press Announcement
When Ford was ready to roll out their new line late last year, they called on Chicago Scenic to help construct scenery for the event. Project Manager Ken Zommer worked with Producer Bud Price, Designer Jeanine Papendrais, and Technical Director Bob Iverson to put on a spectacular press announcement in Detroit's Cobo Arena. Job Leads Russell Pharr and Dan Yuen were on site to help install and supervise the project over the New Year's holiday.

Chicago Scenic provided a 48-foot-long ramp that curved around to an eight-foot-high deck that held a dramatic 18-foot turntable. New Ford and Ford partner vehicles, such as the new Land Rover, GT40, Tonka Truck (F350) and Mazda RX8 were unveiled at the show.

One by one, the cars drove up the ramp, stopped on the turntable, and slowly spun 360 degrees to highlight the style and design of the car. Ford also unveiled several vehicles from the deck above and then drove them down so the press could get an up-close look. For the Land Rover, logs were added to the ramp to demonstrate the four-wheel independent suspension system as the SUV drove over them.

CSSI also provided front and rear projection screens for image magnification, video and graphics of Ford, Volvo, Mazda, and Land Rover. These were also used by the lighting designer along with 30 to 60-foot-long and three-foot-diameter white vertical tubes to reinforce the visual picture and give color and dimension to the highly stylized set.

LaSalle Bank Award Ceremony Highlights Chicago Neighborhoods
For the third year in a row, Chicago Scenic helped LaSalle Bank put on their annual Tom Gobby Achievement Award ceremony. This year the event's format was changed from a panel discussion to a reception. The party was well received with over 300 people in attendance.

The event was held at the Standard Club which allowed CSSI an opportunity to provide a larger than usual décor package for this special event, Project Manager John Beckman worked closely with LaSalle's Michelle Arnold, assistant vice president of special events, and her colleague Stephanie Kuecken to make sure the event went off without a hitch.

CSSI's Andy Lemerand and Nick Levinsky worked onsite to theme the room with décor. The buffet tables and bar were decorated with props that highlighted various Chicago neighborhoods where LaSalle has financed properties. Neighborhoods represented on buffet tables were the Pilsen District, which was decorated with a Mexican theme, China Town, Little Italy, and the Fulton Street Market, which was represented by a push cart decorated with fresh flowers and lots of the savory items one would expect to buy there. The bar was themed as Greek Town and was decorated with ivy and a statue of Diana.

CSSI also provided a stage, curtains, and a large LaSalle logo created using our CNC router. Other scenic elements included general décor items such as flowers, plants, and a front projection screen that showed pictures of financed properties in the various neighborhoods. CSSI's Job Lead Ken Glucksberg worked with Tim Steimle and Dan Yuen on the project in the shop.

Chicago Scenic Redesigns Leo Burnett Lobby for Annual Meeting
CSSI has helped Leo Burnett put on their famous annual breakfast events since 1983. This year they wanted to do something just as special, but a little different, so they hired Chicago Scenic to redecorate their lobby to look like an upscale hotel. CSSI Project Manger Gary Heitz and Designer Tom Ryan worked with Leo Burnett's Chris Rossiter to come up with the look. The décor was set up the night before the event and was removed the next evening. Tim Steimle led the overnight transformation of the space.

An Asian theme was chosen and for the transformation CSSI put sheer white drapery over the lobby's columns and replaced the holiday poinsettias with Japanese-inspired plant boxes filled with bamboo and dried grasses. We also turned their existing stone benches into table settings using polished river-rock on white tablecloths surrounding themed centerpieces. Leo Burnett served refreshments from a bamboo wrapped tiki bar to their employees and colored vases were added to the shelves in the windows to complete the look.

As part of the annual tradition, Leo Burnett also showcases their best print work in a gallery displayed in their lobby. In the past, they've used CSSI rental exhibit panels but this year they decided to try something new. Tom Ryan continued the Asian theme by developing a custom panel system of copper wire mesh framed with stained wood to display the exceptional print work.

<<Back to Corporate Presentations
<<Back to Spring 2002 Newsletter