Building a Modular Forum Environment at Expo 2020 Dubai

The Qudwa–PISA Global Competence Forum took place at Expo 2020 Dubai on 19 February 2022. Developed around the theme Preparing Students to Live in an Interconnected World, the forum was delivered in collaboration with the OECD and the Bussola Institute.

Evolution Scenic was responsible for developing and delivering the physical scenic environment. The scope extended well beyond the main presentation area and included the stage deck, screen structures, Media Hub installation, partitions, branded backdrops, illuminated totems and plinths, signage, wayfinding and lounge elements.

Each part of the environment performed a different function, but the complete installation needed to operate as one coordinated piece of temporary architecture. This required the stage, technical displays, exhibition structures, branding and supporting elements to share a consistent architectural and graphic language throughout the forum.

Developing the Scenic Concept

Evolution Scenic developed the scenic design rather than working solely from a completed third-party production package. This allowed the visual concept, fabrication methodology, material choices and installation requirements to be considered together from the beginning of the project.

The forum identity was translated into a combination of solid scenic surfaces, framed technical displays, illuminated vertical elements and areas of coloured transparency. The main stage established the strongest architectural expression, with the same visual principles subsequently carried into the Media Hub, partitions, branded structures and wayfinding elements.

Maintaining this continuity was particularly important because the forum contained several distinct functional areas. Consistent proportions, framing, materials and graphics allowed each zone to retain its own purpose while still reading as part of the same temporary environment.

Constructing the Main Stage

The main stage and stage deck formed the central scenic structure within the forum. Evolution Scenic fabricated the physical stage environment, including the deck, surrounding scenic architecture and the metalwork required to integrate the LED screens supplied by Evolution Technical.

MDF, plywood and timber framing formed part of the confirmed material palette. These materials provided adaptable scenic surfaces that could be produced in modular sections and finished with the required graphics and decorative treatments, while metal framing provided additional structural support around the technical display systems.

The screens were treated as integral parts of the stage composition rather than freestanding pieces of equipment. Their positions influenced the proportions of the surrounding architecture, while the fabricated scenic elements established the visual boundaries that connected the displays to the wider stage.

The stage also needed to support practical technical operation. Scenic surrounds were therefore developed around the physical requirements of the screens and their supporting systems, allowing the visible architecture and technical installation to work together as one coordinated environment.

Integrating the LED Systems

Evolution Technical supplied the LED screen systems used within the main stage. Evolution Scenic fabricated the metal structures and scenic surrounds that incorporated those displays into the architecture of the presentation environment.

This required accurate coordination between the dimensions of the technical equipment and the fabricated scenic components. Screen position influenced the spacing, alignment and overall geometry of the surrounding structures, while the scenic architecture determined how the technical equipment was visually framed from the audience position.

The resulting stage combined two connected disciplines. Evolution Scenic created the physical architecture, while Evolution Technical delivered the display systems operating within it, allowing structural, scenic and technical elements to appear as parts of one resolved composition.

The same collaborative approach extended beyond the main auditorium into the Media Hub, where fabricated frames, graphics and technical displays again needed to operate within a shared architectural system.

Fabricating the Media Hub

The Media Hub was developed as a freestanding scenic feature within the wider forum environment. Evolution Scenic fabricated metal-framed panels incorporating coloured transparent sheet and printed graphics, creating a distinct secondary zone without requiring permanent modification to the Expo venue.

The metal frames established the geometry and structural definition of the feature, while the transparent coloured materials introduced layering and visual depth. Unlike solid scenic walls, these surfaces allowed parts of the surrounding environment and structural framing to remain visible, creating a lighter architectural treatment.

Printed graphics were incorporated within the framed composition to connect the Media Hub visually with the wider Qudwa–PISA identity. The relationship between structural frames, transparent panels and graphic surfaces allowed the installation to remain distinctive without feeling disconnected from the main stage environment.

Evolution Technical supplied the display equipment incorporated into the Media Hub. The scenic framing was therefore developed around the technical components so that screens, coloured materials and printed graphics aligned as one coordinated installation.

Producing Partitions and Branded Backdrops

Custom partitions and branded backdrops were fabricated to define different areas throughout the forum. These elements functioned as temporary spatial architecture, providing visual separation, branded surfaces and controlled backgrounds without becoming permanent interventions within the Expo venue.

The confirmed construction palette included MDF, plywood, timber framing, metal framing, acrylic, printed fabric and vinyl graphics. Timber-framed panel construction allowed the larger elements to be manufactured as modular sections, while MDF and plywood provided smooth surfaces suitable for consistent graphic and decorative finishes.

Metal framing was incorporated where freestanding structures required additional support or where the construction needed to relate visually to the screen surrounds and Media Hub. This created continuity between the heavier scenic walling and the lighter framed structures positioned elsewhere within the environment.

Together, the partitions and backdrops extended the architectural language beyond the main stage. They helped organise the venue spatially while providing a consistent physical framework for branding, interpretation and circulation.

Branded Totems, Plinths, Signage and Reception Counters

Evolution Scenic fabricated MDF totems and plinths finished with vinyl graphics to create smaller branded focal points throughout the forum. These elements extended the visual identity into areas where a full scenic wall or large architectural installation was unnecessary.

Reception counters, signage and wayfinding used the same coordinated approach to graphics, proportions and finishes. Their scale was smaller than the principal scenic structures, but their positioning and appearance were important to maintaining continuity through the visitor journey.

The freestanding nature of these elements allowed them to be placed according to the practical needs of each area while remaining visually connected to the wider environment. Their finishes and graphic treatment ensured that supporting functions such as reception, information and navigation became part of the overall scenic language.

By carrying the design into these smaller components, the temporary architecture extended beyond the main visual moments. The complete forum environment could therefore maintain a consistent identity from the principal stage through to the supporting circulation and reception areas.

Creating Lounge and Seating Areas

Evolution Scenic fabricated MDF totems and plinths finished with vinyl graphics to create smaller branded focal points throughout the forum. These elements extended the visual identity into areas where a full scenic wall or large architectural installation was unnecessary.

Reception counters, signage and wayfinding used the same coordinated approach to graphics, proportions and finishes. Their scale was smaller than the principal scenic structures, but their positioning and appearance were important to maintaining continuity through the visitor journey.

The freestanding nature of these elements allowed them to be placed according to the practical needs of each area while remaining visually connected to the wider environment. Their finishes and graphic treatment ensured that supporting functions such as reception, information and navigation became part of the overall scenic language.

By carrying the design into these smaller components, the temporary architecture extended beyond the main visual moments. The complete forum environment could therefore maintain a consistent identity from the principal stage through to the supporting circulation and reception areas.

Coordinating Externally Supplied Banners

Tall floor-supported graphic banners were produced by an external specialist supplier and incorporated into the wider forum layout. Evolution Scenic coordinated these elements alongside its fabricated stage, partitions, framed displays and branded structures.

Maintaining a clear distinction between packages was important. The banners formed part of the final visual environment but were not manufactured by Evolution Scenic, while the surrounding scenic architecture and fabricated elements remained within Evolution Scenic’s direct production scope.

The positioning of the banners still needed to respond to the scale and layout of the scenic installation. Their graphic presence contributed to the wider visual identity and therefore needed to sit comfortably alongside the dimensional structures, screens and branded surfaces developed elsewhere in the venue.

Large temporary environments frequently involve several specialist contractors working together. The Qudwa–PISA environment demonstrates how externally supplied elements can be incorporated into a coordinated scenic scheme while retaining clear responsibility for individual fabrication packages.

Modular Workshop Fabrication

The complete scenic environment was produced in modular sections, allowing the main stage structures, framed panels, partitions and backdrops to be manufactured away from the venue under controlled workshop conditions.

Modular construction made the larger elements more manageable for transportation and load-in. Instead of moving complete full-scale structures, the fabrication team could prepare controlled sections that were transported separately and assembled in their final positions at Expo 2020 Dubai.

This approach placed particular importance on workshop accuracy. Connections needed to align consistently, framed structures had to remain square and graphic surfaces needed to meet cleanly once individual modules were joined together on site.

The stage surrounds also had to correspond accurately with the dimensions and positions of the technical displays. Completing this coordination during fabrication reduced the amount of adjustment required within the venue and supported a more controlled installation process.

Completing the Two-Day Installation

The complete on-site scenic installation was delivered over two days. Modular construction and detailed workshop preparation allowed a substantial proportion of the physical production to be completed before the scenic package arrived at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The stage deck and modular scenic sections were assembled before the fabricated surrounds were coordinated with the LED screens supplied by Evolution Technical. The relationship between the screens and scenic architecture could then be checked as the primary presentation environment came together.

The Media Hub was installed as a separate scenic feature, combining its metal frames, coloured transparent panels, printed graphics and technical displays. Partitions, branded backdrops, illuminated totems, plinths, reception elements, signage, wayfinding and lounge structures were positioned across the wider forum environment.

Externally supplied graphic banners were also incorporated into the final layout. Delivering multiple zones within the two-day installation required a controlled sequence so that structural assembly, technical installation, graphics and final scenic finishing could progress efficiently alongside one another.

Creating a Unified Temporary Environment

The completed Qudwa–PISA Global Competence Forum brought scenic fabrication, technical integration and temporary architecture together within one coordinated environment. The main stage combined a modular deck, fabricated scenic structures, metal screen surrounds and LED displays to create the principal presentation setting.

The Media Hub introduced a different architectural character through freestanding metal frames, coloured transparent materials, printed graphics and integrated technical displays. Partitions and backdrops established the surrounding spatial structure, while illuminated totems, plinths, signage and wayfinding extended the visual identity throughout the venue.

Lounge and reception elements brought the same design approach into the functional areas supporting the main programme. Externally supplied banners were coordinated within the overall layout, allowing specialist packages to contribute to the completed environment without blurring responsibility for their manufacture.

Following the forum, the installation was dismantled. From initial scenic development through workshop fabrication, technical coordination, two-day installation and final removal, the project demonstrates the operational value of connecting scenic and technical disciplines within one temporary architectural system. Evolution Scenic produced the physical environment while Evolution Technical supplied the integrated LED and Media Hub systems, with both disciplines coordinated as parts of the same finished space.

Engineering the UAE Climate Tech Environment at Abu Dhabi Energy Center

The inaugural UAE Climate Tech forum was held on 10–11 May 2023 at Abu Dhabi Energy Center. It was organised by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in partnership with ADNOC and Masdar.

Evolution Scenic was responsible for the complete scenic scope across the conference and exhibition environment. The project extended from the principal conference stage into the lobby, sponsor areas, exhibitor stands, interaction zones, registration points, breakout spaces and outdoor exhibition areas. More than 80 exhibitor stands formed part of the wider delivery, alongside sponsor booths, custom furniture and display units.

Because each space had a different function, the scenic system needed to accommodate several wall heights, flooring treatments, display configurations and graphic finishes while retaining a consistent project identity.

Evolution Technical supplied the LED screens and their supporting systems. Evolution Scenic delivered the scenic surrounds, fabricated structures, graphics, counters and specialist floor details required to integrate those technical components into the wider environment.

Building a Unified Conference and Exhibition System

The scenic package was developed as a sequence of connected environments. The main conference room established the primary architectural language through a large central display, curved side screens, illuminated floor lines and a stepped stage.

This language continued through the exhibition spaces using painted walling, printed graphics, LED skirting and integrated digital screens. Sponsor and exhibitor stands introduced reflective vinyl flooring with further LED strip details. These illuminated lines connected the stand floors visually with the stage steps and scenic outlines in the main room.

Outdoor stands used a related but simplified material combination of painted scenic walling, printed vinyl graphics, LED displays and exhibition carpet. Registration and breakout spaces were provided with custom reception counters using painted finishes. These counters supported the operational requirements of the venue while remaining visually connected to the wider scenic package.

The result was a temporary architectural system capable of changing scale and function without losing its material or visual continuity.

Constructing the Main Stage and Stepped Deck

The main stage measured 21.5 metres long, seven metres deep and 750 millimetres high. Its surface was finished in exhibition carpet, providing a consistent presentation area across the full stage footprint.

Stepped access was incorporated at the front and sides of the platform. LED strips followed the step profiles, making the changes in level visually clear and introducing illuminated lines into the stage architecture.

The LED detailing was also extended across selected floor lines. These routes helped define the stage perimeter and connected the main platform with the curved scenic structures positioned at each side. An illuminated lightbox logo was built into the front fascia. Rather than applying branding as a flat graphic, the lightbox created a three-dimensional feature with its own internal illumination.

The stage deck, step geometry, carpet, lighting channels and fascia needed to be developed as one assembly. LED positions had to be established before the visible floor finish was completed so that the lighting appeared integrated rather than surface-mounted.

Integrating the Main Screen and Curved Side Displays

The principal LED display was an existing screen measuring 18 metres wide and 7.5 metres high.

This fixed screen established the scale and centre line of the conference stage. The new scenic construction was coordinated around its position and dimensions. Curved LED displays were positioned on both sides of the central screen. Each screen measured four metres by 2.5 metres and was integrated into a scenic wall measuring four metres by 3.5 metres.

The scenic walls incorporated projecting returns. These returns enclosed the edges of the screen structures and helped connect the technical displays to the surrounding stage architecture.

Painted finishes and illuminated line details continued across the screen surrounds. This prevented the side displays from appearing as freestanding technical units disconnected from the main stage. Evolution Technical delivered the LED screens and supporting systems. Evolution Scenic coordinated the adjoining walls, returns, floor details and visible finishes.

This division of scope required accurate dimensional exchange between the scenic and technical teams. Screen supports, wall edges, floor lighting and stage geometry all needed to correspond before the final surfaces were completed.

Fabricating the Lobby Exhibition Environment

The lobby exhibition environment was developed around scenic walls reaching three metres in height, creating a consistent architectural framework across the exhibition area. The walls were finished in paint and printed vinyl graphics, allowing individual exhibitor identities to be introduced while maintaining a coordinated overall appearance. LED strips positioned along the skirting created a continuous illuminated base detail and helped visually connect the different wall sections throughout the lobby.

Digital displays were integrated directly into the scenic walls according to the individual stand designs. Their positions needed to be coordinated with the surrounding graphics, wall geometry, structural supports and visible panel joints so that the screens appeared as part of the scenic construction rather than as separate technical additions.

Curved wall sections were incorporated alongside the straighter exhibition elements, introducing changes in direction and helping shape movement through the lobby. This allowed the exhibition environment to avoid a repetitive linear booth layout while creating more varied sightlines between adjacent stands.

The combination of painted scenic surfaces, printed vinyl graphics, integrated digital displays and illuminated skirting gave each exhibitor a defined communication zone while preserving the shared architectural language of the wider UAE Climate Tech environment.

The completed lobby therefore functioned as both an exhibition setting and a coordinated scenic circulation space, with the wall geometry, digital content and lighting details working together as one temporary architectural system.

Delivering Sponsor and Exhibitor Stands

Sponsor stand walls reached 3.5 metres in height, giving the principal partners stronger visibility within the exhibition environment and creating a clear distinction from the surrounding lobby areas.

The stands used painted wall finishes, printed vinyl graphics and integrated LED screens according to the approved designs. LED strips were positioned at skirting level, continuing the illuminated detail established throughout the wider exhibition space. Reflective vinyl flooring introduced a distinctive finish within the sponsor and exhibitor areas. The surface reflected the surrounding screen content and lighting, adding visual depth while maintaining a clean and consistent scenic finish.

Additional LED strips were incorporated into the flooring. These illuminated lines were coordinated with wall positions, screen locations and circulation edges so that the lighting detail remained continuous across each stand. The combination of painted scenic walling, printed graphics, integrated displays and illuminated flooring allowed each sponsor and exhibitor environment to retain its own identity while remaining part of the overall UAE Climate Tech scenic language.

The repeated stand delivery also required consistent fabrication across multiple individual environments. Graphic positions, screen openings, skirting details and floor junctions were carefully controlled to maintain a uniform standard throughout the exhibition.

Developing the Interaction, Registration and Breakout Areas

The Gasha interaction area incorporated scenic walls at heights of 2.5 metres and three metres, creating a varied architectural profile within the space. Using two wall heights helped establish separation and visual hierarchy without relying on one continuous wall level throughout the environment. The interaction-area walling remained connected to the wider exhibition system through coordinated scenic finishes and integrated display positions.

Registration and breakout areas were fitted with custom reception counters finished in paint, providing dedicated points for arrival, information and operational support.

The counters were developed to sit naturally within the surrounding scenic environment. Their proportions and finishes were coordinated with the exhibition walling so that the functional furniture appeared as part of the overall fabrication package rather than as separately sourced equipment.

Together, the interaction walls and reception counters extended the same construction and finishing language used across the lobby and sponsor areas while responding to the different operational requirements of each space.

Extending the Scenic Package Outdoors

Outdoor exhibition stands formed part of Evolution Scenic’s complete project scope, extending the scenic language beyond the internal exhibition areas.

These structures used painted scenic finishes, printed vinyl graphics and integrated LED screens in accordance with the individual stand designs. The same attention to wall geometry, branding and display integration used indoors was carried through to the exterior environments.

Exhibition carpet was used for the outdoor flooring rather than the reflective vinyl specified within the interior sponsor and exhibitor areas. This created a practical distinction between the two settings while maintaining continuity with the carpeted main stage.

The outdoor stands required coordinated installation of scenic walling, digital displays, graphics and floor finishes so that each element aligned correctly within the completed structure. By carrying the same fabrication and finishing principles outdoors, Evolution Scenic maintained a consistent project identity across both the internal and external exhibition environments.

Coordinating Installation, Technical Delivery and Compliance

The complete fabrication and installation programme was carried out within the dates and working periods requested by the client. Evolution Scenic followed the client’s rules, regulations and site instructions throughout the project.

The installation required close coordination between the main stage, existing venue screen, new curved displays, exhibition walls, sponsor stands, registration counters, specialist flooring and graphic applications.

Evolution Technical installed the LED screens and their supporting systems, while Evolution Scenic delivered the surrounding scenic structures, wall finishes and flooring details. This required the scenic and technical teams to work within a coordinated installation sequence.

Screen supports and technical elements needed to be positioned before adjoining scenic finishes and floor interfaces were completed, helping maintain accurate alignment between the displays and surrounding fabrication.

All client-required project documentation and technical requirements were addressed, and the complete scenic package was delivered within the approved programme without delay or extension.

Completing the Project Without Programme Extension

Evolution Scenic completed the full scenic scope within the required client timeline. The finished conference room combined a 21.5-metre stage, exhibition-carpet finish, illuminated stepped decking, lightbox fascia branding, an 18-metre main display and two curved side-screen structures.

The exhibition areas extended the same design language through three-metre lobby walls, 3.5-metre sponsor structures, varied-height interaction walls and more than 80 exhibitor stands.

Painted scenic surfaces, printed vinyl graphics, LED skirting, embedded screens, reflective vinyl flooring and illuminated floor lines were coordinated across the individual environments. Outdoor stands, registration counters, custom display units and breakout features completed the wider scenic package.

The final result demonstrated Evolution Scenic’s capacity to manage conference scenery, exhibition fabrication, digital-screen integration, specialist flooring, graphics and multi-zone installation within one controlled delivery programme. The project was delivered without delay or programme extension.