Roche Conference Scenic Fabrication and Gala Environment in Dubai

Fabricating a Multi-Space Conference and Gala Environment for Roche

On 3–4 February 2020, Roche held a two-day conference and gala dinner in Dubai. The programme included a main conference, workshop sessions and an awards environment. Evolution was appointed to deliver the scenic and technical solutions across these spaces, including the principal stages, integrated screens, workshop infrastructure and branded gala setting. Evolution Scenic fabricated all listed scenic elements, working from a design proposed by the client. Evolution Technical supplied the LED screens, audiovisual systems and lighting equipment.

The resulting project required more than the construction of a single conference backdrop. It involved the manufacture and installation of several related temporary environments, each with its own functional purpose but sharing a consistent visual identity.

Translating the Client Design into Buildable Scenery

A client-proposed visual design establishes the intended appearance of a project, but the individual features still need to be developed into components that can be manufactured, transported and installed.

For the Roche Conference, Evolution Scenic converted the supplied design into a modular scenic construction package. The main conference environment included a bespoke stage, screen surrounds and branded scenic elements. Workshop spaces required custom panels and modular partitions, while the gala dinner needed a separate stage and backdrop treatment. Each element had to be broken down into practical workshop sections. The size of those sections needed to account for material dimensions, structural framing, transport access and the available installation programme. The modular strategy allowed the majority of fabrication and finishing to be completed before site access began. This reduced dependence on venue-based construction and supported the two-day installation.

Constructing the Main Conference Stage

The conference stage formed the primary physical setting for presentations and corporate content.

Evolution Scenic fabricated the stage deck and the scenic elevation surrounding the LED displays. The screen surrounds gave the technical surfaces an architectural frame and integrated Roche branding into the physical environment.

The relationship between the screens and the scenery required accuracy. Openings needed to match the technical configuration, while the surrounding panels had to conceal supporting infrastructure and create clean edges around the displayed content. The stage also needed to accommodate presentation movement, furniture positions and sightlines. These practical requirements had to be considered alongside the appearance of the scenic structure.

MDF and plywood were used to create smooth finished faces, supported by timber and metal framing. Painted panels and vinyl graphics established the colour treatment and incorporated the required branding. Because the stage was assembled from modular sections, connections between units needed to remain controlled. Once joined, the elevation had to appear as one continuous scenic composition rather than a collection of separate transportable parts.

Integrating LED and Audiovisual Systems

The LED screens and audiovisual systems were supplied by Evolution Technical. The scenic and technical teams therefore worked within the same wider delivery structure. This supported direct coordination between the screen dimensions, scenic openings, stage layout and equipment access requirements. LED integration affects more than the visible aperture. Scenic construction also needs to account for the physical depth of the screen system, supporting structures, ventilation, signal distribution, power connections and technical maintenance access.

The supplied project information does not provide the exact screen sizes or technical configuration. These details should not be assumed. What is confirmed is that the LED screens were integrated into the bespoke conference stage and supported by a wider audiovisual package. The resulting environment allowed digital content and physical scenic branding to operate as parts of the same presentation setting.

Creating Modular Workshop Environments

The conference included workshop areas requiring custom scenic panels, modular partitions and audiovisual setups. These spaces had different functional demands from the main stage. Rather than creating one large focal elevation, the workshop construction needed to organise the venue into clearly defined session areas.

Evolution Scenic fabricated modular partitions and custom panels using the same wider material language as the main environment. Timber and metal framing provided structural support, while MDF, plywood, fabric, acrylic and painted panels formed the visible surfaces. Vinyl graphics carried branding and workshop-specific information.

The modular partitions allowed the venue to be divided without relying on permanent construction. Their workshop-built format also made installation more efficient and provided better control over the finished surfaces. Where audiovisual equipment was incorporated, the scenic panels and partitions had to remain compatible with screen positions, speakers, cables and other technical components supplied by Evolution Technical. The workshop areas therefore combined temporary architecture, branding and technical infrastructure in a compact format.

Building the Gala Dinner Setting

The gala dinner required a separate scenic response from the daytime conference environment. Evolution Scenic fabricated a dedicated stage with scenic backdrops and branded elements for the awards presentation. Evolution Technical provided the associated lighting. The gala setting maintained the Roche identity but used the physical depth, colour and finish of the scenery to create a more formal environment. Painted panels and vinyl graphics provided a controlled branded finish. Fabric and acrylic were available within the confirmed material palette for selected surfaces and detailed elements.

Lighting influenced how these materials appeared in the completed room. Even where lighting is delivered as a technical discipline, its placement and output affect the visual reading of painted surfaces, graphic panels and scenic depth. The coordination between Evolution Scenic and Evolution Technical allowed the backdrop, stage and lighting to operate as one finished awards environment.

Manufacturing with Mixed Scenic Materials

The scenic construction combined MDF, plywood, timber framing, metal framing, acrylic, fabric, painted panels and vinyl graphics. Each material served a different practical purpose. Timber framing created lightweight structural support behind many of the scenic walls and fascia panels. Plywood provided strength in areas requiring reliable fixing, while MDF created smooth surfaces suitable for paint and vinyl application. Metal framing provided increased rigidity for selected scenic elements, particularly larger or freestanding components.

Acrylic allowed refined decorative and branded details to be incorporated where appropriate. Fabric offered a lightweight covering solution for larger surfaces or areas requiring a different visual texture. Painted panels established consistent colour across the conference and gala spaces. Vinyl graphics provided a controlled method of applying logos, messaging and brand elements to the finished scenery.

Using several material systems within one project required attention to transitions and junctions. The visible differences between painted sheet material, fabric, acrylic and graphic finishes needed to appear intentional. The workshop fabrication process allowed these interfaces to be prepared under controlled conditions before installation.

Preparing Modular Workshop-Built Sections

The scenery was manufactured as modular workshop-built sections. This approach concentrated cutting, framing, assembly, painting and graphic preparation within the fabrication facility. Site work could then focus on installing the completed units. For a project containing a main stage, workshop areas and gala environment, modular construction also helped organise the manufacturing sequence. Components could be grouped by area, labelled and prepared for transport in their required installation order.

Large scenic elevations were divided into manageable sections without losing the overall visual composition. Junctions were located where they could be concealed or finished efficiently after assembly. Modularity also supported coordination with the technical package. Screen openings, equipment interfaces and access positions could be prepared before delivery.

Delivering the Two-Day Installation

Evolution Scenic installed the project over two days. Before assembly began, floor protection was placed across relevant working areas to safeguard the existing venue finish. The stage sections, scenic walls, workshop panels, partitions and gala components were then brought into position and connected.

The main conference scenery needed to be installed in coordination with Evolution Technical so that the LED screens aligned correctly within their scenic surrounds. Workshop partitions and panels required careful setting-out to maintain the intended room layouts and circulation routes.

The gala stage and backdrops formed another separate installation workstream, adding to the amount of scenery that needed to be completed within the programme. Because the scenic units arrived substantially completed, the installation team could prioritise alignment, joint finishing, graphic continuity and technical integration rather than carrying out primary fabrication at the venue. The internal coordination between scenic, technical and furniture departments helped organise the delivery of several overlapping packages. The original project page confirms that the wider Evolution team supplied audiovisual systems, staging and bespoke furniture support.

Floor protection and fire-rated materials were confirmed project requirements. Floor protection reduced the risk of damage while heavy scenic units, tools and technical equipment were moved through the venue. Fire-rated materials were used within the scenic package to meet the requirements of the indoor event environment. These measures formed part of the practical delivery of temporary scenery within an existing venue. The quality of an installation depends not only on the final visual appearance but also on how the building, working areas and other production systems are managed throughout the process.

Completing the Conference and Gala Delivery

The completed installation provided Roche with a coordinated series of branded temporary environments. The main stage combined scenic construction with integrated LED displays. Workshop panels and modular partitions created functional session areas. The gala stage and backdrops provided a distinct setting for the awards programme.

Evolution Scenic’s modular fabrication approach supported the two-day installation, while the involvement of Evolution Technical allowed the screens, audiovisual equipment and lighting to be coordinated with the scenery. The confirmed project outcome was the successful delivery of both the conference and gala environments.

The project demonstrates how scenic fabrication can support multiple formats within one corporate programme, combining presentation architecture, technical integration, workshop infrastructure and formal event scenery through one coordinated manufacturing and installation process.