Milestone celebrations require scenic environments that can communicate heritage, achievement and identity through both visual impact and visitor interaction. For the ADNOC Jubilee Festival at ADNOC HQ from 26–28 November 2021, Evolution Scenic delivered a series of custom scenic installations created to celebrate 50 years of ADNOC’s achievements and innovation.

The project combined large-scale branded features, interactive elements, technical flooring and heavy-duty structural fabrication. Key installations included the ADNOC 50 Faces gallery stands, a main stage platform, giant hashtag signage, a pledge booth and custom branded backdrops. CNC and laser cutting were used throughout the fabrication process to achieve the precision required by the design.

The Challenge

The festival required multiple scenic elements to express the significance of ADNOC’s 50th anniversary while also functioning safely within a live public event environment.

Several elements combined decorative treatment with technical or structural requirements. The 50 Faces gallery stands had to achieve a highly specific form, while the main stage needed to support repeated use and provide safe ramp access.

The 336m² technical flooring system also required structural planning to ensure stability and even load distribution across the gallery environment.

The project therefore demanded close coordination between design interpretation, detailed fabrication, structural support and installation, all within a tight production programme.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic translated the detailed design concepts into a coordinated package of scenic and structural installations.

The ADNOC 50 Faces gallery stands were fabricated in the shape of the number “50,” using technical PVC flooring and reflective vinyl to reinforce the anniversary theme and create a strong visual focal point.

A heavy-duty main stage platform was constructed with PVC flooring and custom ramp access, providing a functional central area for the festival programme.

A large freestanding hashtag installation was also fabricated as both a visual landmark and an interactive photo feature.

The pledge booth introduced a participatory element, giving attendees a dedicated space to engage with the celebration and contribute their own messages.

Custom backdrops and branded scenic elements were produced across the wider event environment to maintain consistency in the overall visual identity.

Advanced CNC and laser cutting were used throughout the fabrication process to achieve accurate profiles and repeatable components. The 336m² technical flooring system was supported by metal tube gallery frames, with calculations and planning carried out to ensure structural stability and even load distribution.

Delivery Highlights

• Scenic production for the ADNOC Jubilee Festival.

• Event held at ADNOC HQ.

• Event dates: 26–28 November 2021.

• Celebration of ADNOC’s 50th anniversary.

• ADNOC 50 Faces gallery stands.

• Gallery structures formed in the shape of the number “50.”

• Technical PVC flooring.

• Reflective vinyl finishes.

• Heavy-duty main stage platform.

• Custom ramp access.

• Giant freestanding hashtag signage.

• Interactive pledge booth.

• Custom event backdrops.

• Branded scenic elements.

• CNC fabrication.

• Laser cutting.

• 336m² technical flooring system.

• Metal tube gallery frame supports.

• Structural planning for stability and load distribution.

• Fast-track fabrication and installation.

Outcome

The completed ADNOC Jubilee Festival environment combined large-scale visual features with interactive and functional scenic elements to create a cohesive 50th anniversary celebration.

The 50 Faces gallery, main stage, hashtag installation and pledge booth each contributed a distinct role within the visitor experience, while the branded backdrops and reflective finishes maintained a consistent anniversary identity.

The project demonstrates Evolution Scenic’s ability to deliver precision-led event fabrication where decorative form, structural performance, interactive features and technical flooring all need to be developed as part of one coordinated scenic package.

Cultural pavilions require scenic environments that do more than provide a backdrop. They must support storytelling, live demonstrations and visitor interaction while creating an authentic sense of place.

During COP28, held from 30 November to 12 December 2023, the UAE Pavilion at Expo City Dubai provided an interactive cultural environment where visitors could explore Emirati heritage alongside the wider themes of sustainability.

Appointed by the National Projects Office, Evolution Scenic designed, fabricated and installed scenic elements throughout the pavilion, creating environments for traditional craftsmanship, cultural performances, marine heritage displays and guided storytelling.

The result brought together contemporary fabrication and traditional cultural references within a cohesive visitor experience.

The Challenge

The UAE Pavilion needed to communicate the country's cultural heritage within the context of COP28, creating an experience that was authentic, engaging and aligned with the pavilion's sustainability objectives.

Multiple cultural activities had to coexist within the environment, including traditional craft demonstrations, gahwa preparation, traditional medicine displays, Ayallah performances and marine heritage exhibits.

The scenic approach therefore needed to support live activity and visitor movement while maintaining a consistent visual language throughout the pavilion. Elements also needed to transition effectively between daytime and evening operation across the COP28 programme.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic developed a series of custom scenic environments designed around the pavilion's cultural programme and visitor journey.

Modular scenic structures were fabricated to integrate naturally with the existing pavilion environment while supporting the project's sustainability-led approach. Dedicated areas were created for live demonstrations of traditional Emirati crafts, including date palm weaving, gahwa preparation and traditional medicine.

Custom-built environments supported live Ayallah performances and marine craft exhibitions, allowing cultural practices to become active parts of the visitor experience rather than static displays.

Scenic backdrops and interpretive display elements were integrated throughout the guided experience, helping support the stories presented to visitors as they moved through the pavilion.

Ambient lighting was also incorporated into the scenic environment, allowing the atmosphere to transition from daytime operation into evening programming while maintaining visual consistency across the installation.

Delivery Highlights

• Scenic design, fabrication and installation
• Modular scenic display structures
• Cultural exhibition environments
• Date palm weaving demonstration area
• Gahwa preparation environment
• Traditional medicine displays
• Live Ayallah performance area
• Marine craft exhibition environments
• Interactive cultural installations
• Scenic backdrops for guided storytelling
• Interpretive display elements
• Integrated ambient lighting
• Day-to-night scenic environment
• COP28 pavilion installation
• Sustainability-led scenic approach

Outcome

The completed UAE Pavilion environment provided visitors with an interactive way to experience Emirati heritage during COP28, bringing traditional practices, performance and cultural storytelling together within a contemporary pavilion setting.

Rather than presenting heritage exclusively through static exhibition displays, the scenic environments supported live artisans, performers and demonstrations, creating opportunities for visitors to engage directly with different aspects of Emirati culture.

The project demonstrates Evolution Scenic's ability to deliver culturally informed exhibition environments where bespoke fabrication, visitor experience and live programming work together to communicate heritage within a major international event.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Scenic design, bespoke fabrication, modular display structures, cultural exhibition environments, performance areas, interpretive scenic elements, integrated lighting and installation.

Why The Cheapest Fabrication Quote Often Becomes The Most Expensive

Every fabrication company has encountered the same situation. A client requests several quotations for a scenic structure, exhibition environment or temporary installation. One proposal arrives at a noticeably lower price than the others, making it appear to be the obvious commercial choice.

The difference may look like a saving during procurement. Once technical development, manufacturing and installation begin, however, unresolved items can quickly turn that saving into additional expenditure. The issue is rarely the quoted price alone. The real challenge is that fabrication quotations do not always compare like for like.

The Same Design Can Represent Very Different Scopes

A concept render communicates the intended appearance of a project, but it does not always explain how the structure will be engineered, manufactured, transported or installed. Two fabricators may therefore price the same visual concept using very different assumptions.

One quotation might include:

• Technical design development
• Structural engineering reviews
• Detailed fabrication drawings
• Material samples and finish approvals
• CNC programming and production
• Trial assembly
• Protective packaging
• Transport planning
• Site supervision
• Installation labour
• Access equipment
• Final adjustments and snagging support

Another quotation may cover only the physical manufacture of the visible elements. Neither approach is automatically incorrect. The difficulty begins when the exclusions, assumptions and responsibilities are not clearly understood. A lower headline figure may simply mean that important parts of the project remain unpriced.

A meaningful quotation comparison should therefore examine scope before cost. The key question is not only, “How much is the structure?” It is also, “What work is required to deliver it successfully, and who is responsible for each stage?”

Engineering Work Is Easy to Overlook

Engineering reviews, technical drawings and buildability studies are often less visible than finished scenic surfaces, yet they can influence almost every part of a fabrication project.

Before manufacturing begins, the fabrication team may need to determine:

• How loads move through the structure
• Where steel or aluminium reinforcement is required
• How separate components will connect
• Whether the installation can be safely lifted
• How the structure will be restrained on site
• Whether floor, rigging or venue loading limits apply
• How maintenance or technology access will be provided
• How the structure will be divided for transport

This work takes time, but it also resolves problems while they are still relatively inexpensive to correct. When engineering development is excluded or reduced, technical decisions may be postponed until the workshop or installation stage. By that point, materials may already have been purchased, components manufactured and transport booked. Alterations become slower, more disruptive and more expensive.

The value of technical development is not always obvious in the final appearance. Its benefit is often measured by the problems that never occur.

Material Substitutions Can Change More Than Appearance

Material selection is another area where quotations can differ significantly. Two structures may appear identical in a render but perform very differently depending on how they are built. A wall could be manufactured using timber framing, lightweight steel, aluminium extrusion, composite panels, MDF, plywood or a hybrid construction method. Each option affects weight, durability, finish quality, fire performance, handling and installation.

Material substitution is not necessarily a negative practice. It can form part of responsible value engineering when the alternative has been properly assessed. The problem arises when a cheaper material changes the performance of the structure without that difference being clearly communicated.

A lower-cost board, for example, may require additional support, more careful handling or greater finishing time. A heavier structural system may increase vehicle requirements, lifting arrangements and installation labour. A finish that performs well in a controlled exhibition hall may be unsuitable for an outdoor public installation exposed to heat, moisture, dust or repeated handling. The cost of a material should therefore be considered alongside its effect on the complete build methodology.

Installation Is Where Omissions Become Visible

Many hidden costs only become apparent once a project reaches site. A structure may have been manufactured correctly in isolation but still be difficult to assemble within the available installation window. Connections may be inaccessible. Modules may be too large for venue entrances. Components may require more labour than anticipated. Fixing points may conflict with existing services or venue restrictions.

When installation planning has been considered from the beginning, scenic components can be designed around practical site conditions. Modules can be sized for access routes, connections can be positioned where installers can reach them, and the build sequence can be coordinated with flooring, graphics, lighting and audiovisual systems.

Without that preparation, the site team may need to improvise. Additional labour, overnight working, access equipment, cutting, welding, repainting and last-minute hardware can quickly increase the final cost. Delays may also affect other contractors whose work depends on the scenic installation being completed. Installation support is therefore not simply an optional service added after fabrication. It is part of the overall construction methodology.

Transportation Is Part of the Design

Transport costs are sometimes treated as a separate logistical item, but transportation requirements are often established by design and fabrication decisions. A structure that cannot be dismantled efficiently may require larger vehicles or multiple journeys. Fragile finishes may need specialist crates. Oversized components may require permits, escorts or alternative delivery routes. Poorly planned loading can increase handling time and the risk of damage.

Experienced fabrication teams consider transportation while the structure is still being developed. Components may be divided into practical modules, nesting arrangements may be planned, lifting points incorporated and protective packaging designed around vulnerable surfaces. These decisions can reduce vehicle space, improve loading efficiency and minimise site handling.

A cheaper manufacturing method can become expensive when it produces oversized, heavy or difficult-to-protect components. The relevant comparison is therefore not only the workshop price, but the total cost of delivering the fabricated work to its final position.

Rework Is Rarely Limited to One Cost

Rework is one of the most common ways an apparently economical quotation becomes expensive.

A single fabrication issue can create several connected costs:

• Replacement materials
• Additional workshop labour
• Revised technical drawings
• Repeat finishing
• New transport arrangements
• Additional installation labour
• Extended equipment hire
• Delays to dependent trades
• Damage to completed scenic finishes

There may also be a quality impact. Repairs carried out under severe time pressure do not always achieve the same finish as work completed in controlled workshop conditions. This is why experienced scenic teams place such importance on technical reviews, material testing, prototypes and trial assemblies.

These activities add effort before installation, but they help identify dimensional conflicts, connection issues and finish problems early. The objective is not to make the quotation larger. It is to make the delivery process more predictable.

Value Engineering Is Different From Cost Cutting

A well-developed quotation should not prevent a project from being economical. In many cases, technical expertise creates opportunities to reduce cost without weakening the finished result. This is the purpose of value engineering.

Effective value engineering may involve:

• Simplifying concealed framing
• Standardising repeated components
• Reducing unnecessary material thickness
• Selecting lighter structural systems
• Using CNC machining to improve production efficiency
• Dividing components to optimise transport
• Designing reusable modular assemblies
• Concentrating premium finishes where they have the greatest visual impact
• Adjusting connection details to reduce installation time

These decisions preserve the design intent while improving how the project is manufactured and installed. Cost cutting takes a different approach. It removes expenditure without always considering the wider consequences. The immediate quotation becomes lower, but the saving may transfer risk into durability, coordination, transportation or site installation.

Good value engineering looks at the complete project. It considers the relationship between material cost, labour, logistics, programme, performance and finish quality.

How to Compare Fabrication Quotations Properly

A useful quotation review should examine more than the final total.

Before selecting a supplier, clients and project teams should confirm:

• Scope: What is included, excluded and assumed?
• Engineering: Are structural reviews and technical drawings included?
• Materials: Are the proposed materials clearly specified?
• Finishes: Are samples, testing and approval processes covered?
• Transport: Is packaging, loading and delivery included?
• Installation: Who provides labour, supervision, tools and access equipment?
• Site conditions: Have access restrictions, working hours and venue rules been considered?
• Coordination: Who manages interfaces with lighting, graphics, audiovisual systems and other contractors?
• Revisions: How are design changes and additional work handled?
• Handover: Are snagging, final adjustments and completion support included?

This does not mean the most expensive quotation is automatically the best. A high price can also contain inefficiencies or unnecessary allowances. The aim is to compare the same responsibilities, performance standards and delivery requirements. Only then does the price comparison become meaningful.

Youth-focused forums need environments that feel professional enough to support serious discussion while remaining open, engaging and accessible to participants. For the ADSW Youth Circle during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2018, Evolution delivered a tailored event environment designed to support dialogue around sustainability and renewable energy.

Hosted in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and the Ministry of Youth Affairs at the ADSW VIP Majlis in ICC Hall, the initiative brought together students from across the Emirates. Evolution’s scope included a custom stage, branded scenic elements, tailored event furniture and scenic backdrops with integrated AV, creating a cohesive setting for keynote content, interactive discussions and video coverage.

The Challenge

The Youth Circle required an environment that could support both formal content and open discussion among young participants.

The stage needed to accommodate keynote addresses and interactive sessions, while the wider venue had to remain visually aligned with the sustainability focus of ADSW.

Furniture, branding and technical infrastructure also needed to contribute to a comfortable and professional participant experience without making the space feel overly formal.

The Solution

Evolution developed a coordinated scenic package tailored to the needs of the youth-focused programme.

A custom stage environment was designed and built to support keynote addresses and interactive discussion formats.

Branded scenic elements were fabricated and installed throughout the venue to create a consistent visual identity aligned with the wider ADSW environment and sustainability theme.

Modern seating and event furniture were supplied to support participant comfort and encourage engagement throughout the sessions.

Scenic backdrops were also developed with integrated AV elements, supporting presentations and high-quality video coverage while keeping the technical infrastructure visually connected to the event environment.

Delivery Highlights

• Scenic production for the ADSW Youth Circle.

• Part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2018.

• Hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs.

• Event held at the ADSW VIP Majlis in ICC Hall.

• Participation by students from across the Emirates.

• Custom stage environment.

• Interactive discussion setting.

• Branded scenic elements.

• Sustainability-led event identity.

• Tailored event furniture.

• Modern seating arrangements.

• Scenic backdrops.

• Integrated AV elements.

• Video coverage support.

• Delivery and installation.

Outcome

The completed ADSW Youth Circle environment provided a clear and engaging setting for young participants to discuss sustainability and renewable energy.

The custom stage supported keynote and interactive content, while the branded scenic treatment gave the venue a consistent visual identity. Furniture and integrated AV helped create a comfortable and functional setting for both in-room participation and recorded content.

The project demonstrates Evolution Scenic’s ability to deliver youth and education-focused event environments where staging, branding, participant comfort and technical integration all need to work together within one cohesive space.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Scenic production, custom stage, branded scenic elements, event furniture, scenic backdrops, AV integration, delivery and installation.

Children’s events require environments that are visually engaging, easy to navigate and flexible enough to support different activities throughout the programme. Scenic design plays an important role in creating that sense of discovery while providing practical spaces for workshops, entertainment and formal ceremonies.

For Emirati Children’s Day 2018 at Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi, Evolution Scenic was entrusted with the design and production of the festival environment and awards ceremony for the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

The project combined workshop spaces, activity areas, family hospitality zones, bespoke signage, stage scenery and a large suspended feature prop, all delivered within a demanding production timeline.

The Challenge

The event brought together educational workshops, creative activities, family areas, media requirements and a formal awards ceremony within one programme.

Each environment needed its own purpose and visual identity while remaining connected to the wider festival experience. The awards ceremony also required a more formal setting for the presentation of the Council’s Bullying Prevention Award, with seating for 200 attendees.

With a tight production schedule, Evolution Scenic needed to coordinate the fabrication and installation of multiple bespoke elements across the venue while ensuring everything was completed in time for the event.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic designed and produced a series of environments tailored to the different activities taking place throughout Emirati Children’s Day.

A dedicated festival area incorporated a tent for workshops alongside custom activity spaces and an outdoor environment with food and beverage services and family seating. Individual workshop areas featured bespoke backdrops and interactive elements, creating distinctive spaces for educational and artistic activities.

A dedicated media area was supported by custom signage to improve visibility and accessibility, while bespoke wayfinding and event signage were installed across the wider venue.

For the awards ceremony, Evolution Scenic transformed the conference centre with a custom stage backdrop, event branding and seating for 200 guests, providing a more formal environment for the recognition programme.

One of the project's defining scenic features was a giant paper aeroplane prop, fabricated as a large-scale visual installation and suspended from the ceiling. The piece created an immediate focal point while adding a playful element appropriate to the children's event.

Delivery Highlights

• Festival scenic design and production
• Dedicated workshop tent
• Bespoke children's activity areas
• Outdoor family seating environment
• F&B area integration
• Custom workshop backdrops
• Interactive scenic features
• Dedicated media area
• Bespoke event and directional signage
• Awards ceremony scenic production
• Custom stage backdrop
• Seating environment for 200 attendees
• Giant suspended paper aeroplane prop
• Multi-area venue installation
• Delivery within a tight production programme

Outcome

Emirati Children’s Day brought together educational, artistic and celebratory experiences within a vibrant environment designed specifically for children and their families.

By creating dedicated spaces for workshops, activities, hospitality, media and the awards ceremony, Evolution Scenic supported the different functions of the programme while maintaining a cohesive event environment.

The giant suspended paper aeroplane, bespoke activity areas and custom scenic elements gave the event a distinctive visual character, demonstrating Evolution Scenic’s ability to deliver multi-zone festival environments that combine creative fabrication with practical event functionality under demanding production timelines.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Festival scenic design, bespoke fabrication, workshop environments, custom backdrops, stage scenery, large-scale prop fabrication, signage, event branding and installation.

Technology-focused corporate events require environments that feel contemporary, precise and aligned with the subject matter being presented. For ADNOC’s AI Pledge Event at the ADNOC Energy Center in Abu Dhabi, Evolution Scenic delivered a modern scenic setup combining custom fabrication, integrated branding and functional event infrastructure.

The project included a large branded timber wall, custom stage, side wing décor walls, screen cladding, an MDF and acrylic “Energy AI” logo, branded feature walls and technical hider counters. Sustainability and safety requirements were considered throughout the delivery, with the complete scenic package executed within a tight production programme.

The Challenge

The event required a clean and modern visual environment that could support ADNOC’s AI-focused messaging while maintaining a strong corporate identity.

The scenic package needed to combine branding, staging, screen integration and technical concealment without making the space feel visually cluttered.

The project also had to align with sustainability and safety requirements, meaning material selection and installation planning had to support both the visual brief and the operational standards of the event.

A compressed delivery programme added further pressure, requiring fabrication, finishing, logistics and installation to be coordinated efficiently.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic developed a coordinated scenic package tailored to the visual and functional requirements of the AI Pledge Event.

A large timber wall was fabricated and finished with vinyl branding to create a strong branded backdrop within the venue.

A custom stage was constructed with carpet finishes, supported by side wing décor walls that extended the visual treatment across the main event area.

Forex cladding was also produced around screen elements, allowing digital content to be integrated into the scenic environment while maintaining a consistent branded finish.

A custom “Energy AI” logo was fabricated using MDF and acrylic, creating a more dimensional branding feature within the event space.

Additional branding walls were produced to reinforce the event identity across key guest-facing areas.

Technical hider counters were also designed and fabricated to conceal equipment while maintaining a clean and professional appearance.

Environmentally responsible materials were incorporated where required to align the project with ADNOC’s sustainability objectives.

Delivery Highlights

• Scenic production for the ADNOC AI Pledge Event.

• Event held at the ADNOC Energy Center.

• Large custom timber wall.

• Vinyl branding across scenic surfaces.

• Bespoke event stage.

• Carpet stage finish.

• Side wing décor walls.

• Forex screen cladding.

• Custom MDF and acrylic “Energy AI” logo.

• Branded feature walls.

• Technical hider counters.

• Integrated equipment concealment.

• Sustainability-led material considerations.

• Safety-compliant scenic delivery.

• Fast-track fabrication and installation.

• Complex logistics coordination.

Outcome

The completed event environment provided a clean and contemporary setting for ADNOC’s AI Pledge Event, combining strong branding with practical staging and technical integration.

The custom walls, stage, screen cladding and dimensional “Energy AI” logo created a consistent visual identity, while the technical hider counters helped keep equipment integrated discreetly within the wider design.

The project demonstrates Evolution Scenic’s ability to deliver technology-focused corporate environments where branding, scenic fabrication, sustainability, technical concealment and compressed delivery schedules need to be resolved together.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Scenic fabrication, branded timber walls, custom stage, side wing décor walls, screen cladding, MDF and acrylic branding, technical hider counters, sustainability-led material integration, delivery and installation.