Corporate Branding & Events

Ford NAIAS 2016 Press Reveal

At the 2016 North American International Auto Show, Ford Automotive lit up the stage with several new models of cars and trucks in Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena. Looking at the sophistication and dazzling use of light and projection in this event, it's mind boggling that Chicago Scenic had just two-and-a-half weeks to complete the set production.

The ten faceted translucent walls that served as the event backdrop posed the challenge: finding a surface that appears seamless when lit from front and back. The solution began with a 500-foot roll of polycarbonate that crews bent into several panels to create a zigzag pattern. The surface was then break-formed to undulate and mirror the designer’s vision of an apparently seamless surface without shadows. To ensure onsite performance, Chicago Scenic performed tests in our Chicago facilities.

Lighting rigged behind the walls allowed for seamless color changes during different reveals and speakers. Lighting also framed the 60-foot-wide LED screen that displayed promotional video of Ford’s new models.

The set incorporated Chicago Scenic’s ‘floating’ laminate stage that supported 10,000 pounds of heavy-duty vehicles while hiding fasteners and other hardware from view, contributing to the polished look of the set. Vehicles rotated with the use of Chicago Scenic’s 20-foot turntable and motion control.

At the 2016 North American International Auto Show, Ford Automotive lit up the stage with several new models of cars and trucks in Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena. Looking at the sophistication and dazzling use of light and projection in this event, it's mind boggling that Chicago Scenic had just two-and-a-half weeks to complete the set production.

The ten faceted translucent walls that served as the event backdrop posed the challenge: finding a surface that appears seamless when lit from front and back. The solution began with a 500-foot roll of polycarbonate that crews bent into several panels to create a zigzag pattern. The surface was then break-formed to undulate and mirror the designer’s vision of an apparently seamless surface without shadows. To ensure onsite performance, Chicago Scenic performed tests in our Chicago facilities.

Lighting rigged behind the walls allowed for seamless color changes during different reveals and speakers. Lighting also framed the 60-foot-wide LED screen that displayed promotional video of Ford’s new models.

The set incorporated Chicago Scenic’s ‘floating’ laminate stage that supported 10,000 pounds of heavy-duty vehicles while hiding fasteners and other hardware from view, contributing to the polished look of the set. Vehicles rotated with the use of Chicago Scenic’s 20-foot turntable and motion control.

01.2016 back to Corporate Branding & Events