Public artworks displayed outdoors must preserve the artist’s creative intent while meeting demanding structural, environmental and visitor-safety requirements.

For the Dubai Light Art Festival, held at Expo City Dubai from 26 January to 4 February 2024, AGB Events commissioned Evolution Scenic to fabricate and install three large-scale illuminated artworks.

The project included Minaret 2.0 by Abdullah Al-Mulla, Musk Spectre by Dr Najat Makki and Afterlife by Maitha Hamdan. Each installation required a distinct combination of metal fabrication, structural calculations, specialist materials, integrated RGBW or LED lighting and secure outdoor installation.

The Challenge

The artists’ concepts needed to be translated into engineered structures capable of operating safely in a public outdoor environment.

Structural calculations had to consider wind loading, material durability, environmental exposure, base design and counterweight requirements. Each installation also needed to protect visitors while maintaining the visual proportions and material character of the original artwork.

The scale and geometry of Minaret 2.0 created a particular transportation challenge. Measuring approximately 2.1 metres wide, 2.1 metres deep and 10 metres high, its finished acrylic elevations required careful handling during delivery.

Musk Spectre extended across 180 square metres and combined seven connected figures with fabric, internal lighting and three tonnes of sand. Afterlife required a six-metre cylindrical structure with a continuous 360-degree light curtain.

All three installations needed to be coordinated, transported and securely positioned within the festival programme.

Building Seven Interconnected Musk Spectre Figures

Musk Spectre Sculpture occupied a much wider footprint. Evolution Scenic fabricated seven custom mild-steel figure structures and installed them across an area of approximately 180 square metres. The individual forms were elongated and relatively narrow, creating a strong visual contrast between their height and their lightweight translucent surfaces. Metal base plates interconnected the figures and helped establish their relationship across the completed composition. Accurate setting-out was required so that the spacing and orientation of all seven structures remained consistent with the intended arrangement.

Stretch tulle fabric was fitted over the steel frames. The textile transformed the fabricated skeletons into softly defined illuminated figures while allowing the internal RGBW lighting to remain visible. Fabric tension needed to be controlled to preserve each silhouette without producing heavy creases or uneven areas that could disrupt the lighting effect.

The RGBW fixtures created colour and shadow within the textile surfaces. Their positions had to account for the geometry of each figure and the visual behaviour of the tulle. Three tonnes of sand were installed around the completed structures. The sand formed part of the visible scenic environment, connecting the seven figures to the ground plane and extending the artwork beyond the fabricated forms themselves. Its installation was sequenced after the main structures had been connected so that the bases, cabling and access points could be completed first.

The Solution

Minaret 2.0 by Abdullah Al-Mulla

Evolution Scenic fabricated a custom metal structure weighing approximately 1,000 kilograms. Geometric acrylic frames with reflective vinyl were incorporated into its elevations, strengthening the form’s interaction with daylight and artificial illumination.

A two-tonne metal base structure and counterweights provided the stability required for outdoor display. Detailed calculations addressed wind loading and the behaviour of the tall installation in changing environmental conditions.

Internal RGBW lighting introduced gradual colour transitions representing the five daily prayer times, supporting the artist’s exploration of time and the spiritual rhythm of life in Dubai.

The completed structure’s height and delicate acrylic geometry required a planned transportation method to protect its finished surfaces during delivery to Expo City.

Musk Spectre by Dr Najat Makki

Seven custom metal structures were fabricated and connected through metal base plates to form the installation’s individual figures.

The structures were wrapped in stretch tulle, creating translucent sculptural surfaces through which internal RGBW lighting could produce shadows and changing visual effects.

The installation occupied an area of approximately 180 square metres. Three tonnes of sand were placed around the figures, supporting the artwork’s representation of women emerging from the ground and the transition of Dubai’s natural environment from water to sand.

Afterlife by Maitha Hamdan

Evolution Scenic fabricated a cylindrical metal structure measuring 2.4 metres in diameter and six metres high.

A custom LED light curtain was installed around the full circumference of the cylinder, creating a continuous 360-degree illuminated surface.

The structure provided the physical framework for Maitha Hamdan’s textile-led exploration of social boundaries, religion and personal memory.

Engineering and installation

Across all three artworks, Evolution Scenic combined technical calculations with custom metal fabrication, scenic material integration and secure base structures.

Installation methods were developed to comply with the required specifications and public-safety standards. A coordinated delivery schedule enabled the artworks, counterweights, lighting components and three tonnes of sand to be transported and installed within the festival timeframe.

Delivery Highlights

• Three large-scale outdoor art installations
• Custom structural calculations
• Wind-load and environmental considerations
• Visitor-safety planning
• Bespoke metal fabrication
• Secure base structures and counterweights
• Integration of RGBW and LED lighting
• Minaret 2.0 by Abdullah Al-Mulla
• 1,000-kilogram minaret structure
• Two-tonne metal base and counterweights
• Geometric acrylic frames
• Reflective vinyl finishes
• Structure approximately 10 metres high
• Musk Spectre by Dr Najat Makki
• Seven interconnected metal figures
• Stretch-tulle fabric surfaces
• Installation covering 180 square metres
• Three tonnes of sand
• Afterlife by Maitha Hamdan
• 2.4-metre-diameter cylindrical structure
• Six-metre installation height
• 360-degree LED light curtain
• Complex transport and logistical planning
• Secure installation at Expo City Dubai

Outcome

The three completed installations translated distinct artistic concepts into structurally developed outdoor artworks for public display at Expo City Dubai.

Minaret 2.0 combined geometric acrylic forms, reflective surfaces and changing RGBW lighting within a tall counterweighted structure. Musk Spectre used illuminated fabric figures and sand to create a sculptural landscape across 180 square metres. Afterlife transformed a cylindrical metal framework into a continuous surface of light.

Through structural calculations, specialist metal fabrication and planned installation, Evolution Scenic delivered each artwork in a form suited to the environmental and safety requirements of the festival.

The project demonstrated how close coordination between artists, scenic fabricators, engineers and lighting specialists can protect creative intent while resolving the practical demands of large-scale public art.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Structural development, design calculations, metal fabrication, acrylic and reflective finishes, fabric integration, base structures, counterweights, transportation and outdoor installation.

Evolution Technical – RGBW lighting control, internal illumination and technical integration across the artworks.

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.

Educational interiors need to combine durability, functionality and visual appeal while remaining appropriate for daily use by young students. For New Century Education (NCE), Evolution Scenic delivered a customised fit-out package across three schools in Abu Dhabi, creating a series of practical and visually engaging interior features.

The scope included large tree bookshelves, reception and library counters, slotted wall panels, coloured acoustic panels, educational graphics and circular seating. Each element was developed with child-friendly finishes and careful attention to safety, ensuring the completed spaces were both functional and suitable for long-term school use.

The Challenge

The project required multiple bespoke interior elements to be delivered across three separate school locations while maintaining consistency in quality, finish and installation.

The spaces needed to feel bright and engaging for students, but every fabricated element also had to be practical, durable and safe for everyday use.

Several components were large or highly visible, including the 6-metre-high tree bookshelves, meaning fabrication accuracy and finishing quality were particularly important.

Material treatment was another critical consideration. Painted and finished elements needed to be fully cured and ventilated before delivery so that no harmful fumes remained when the installations entered the school environments.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic fabricated a series of bespoke school interior features tailored to the requirements of the three NCE campuses.

A 6-metre-high, 3.5-metre-diameter tree bookshelf was created as a central library feature, finished with spray-painted scenic treatment to give the structure a strong visual presence.

Custom counters were installed at the main entrances for visitor registration, alongside additional long counters positioned near the tree bookshelves within the library areas.

Slotted wall panels were fabricated and installed to provide a clean, modern finish within classroom environments.

Custom-shaped acoustic panels were also produced in a range of colours and sizes for the science rooms, adding both sound-control functionality and visual interest.

Graphic wall installations incorporated school branding and educational text, helping connect the interior environment with the identity and learning objectives of the schools.

Circular seating with integrated cushions was built around the tree bookshelf areas, creating comfortable places for students to sit, read and interact within the libraries.

All painted and treated elements were fully cured and ventilated before delivery, ensuring the finished components were suitable for use within child-focused environments.

Delivery Highlights

• Educational fit-out across three NCE schools.

• Project delivered in Abu Dhabi.

• 6m-high tree bookshelf.

• 3.5m-diameter central library feature.

• Spray-painted scenic finish.

• Custom entrance registration counters.

• Long library counters.

• Slotted wall panels.

• Custom-shaped acoustic panels.

• Multiple acoustic panel colours and sizes.

• Science room acoustic treatment.

• Graphic wall installations.

• School branding integration.

• Educational text graphics.

• Circular seating around tree bookshelves.

• Integrated seating cushions.

• Child-friendly materials and finishes.

• Full curing and ventilation before delivery.

• Strict safety protocols.

• Completion across all three schools ahead of schedule.

Outcome

The completed NCE school environments combined bespoke fabrication with practical educational functionality across libraries, reception areas, classrooms and science rooms.

The tree bookshelves created distinctive focal points within the libraries, while the surrounding circular seating encouraged reading and interaction. Acoustic panels introduced both visual colour and functional sound treatment, and the counters, slotted wall panels and graphics helped create more organised and cohesive interiors.

The project demonstrates Evolution Scenic’s ability to deliver permanent educational environments where large-scale fabrication, child-friendly detailing, acoustic treatment, branding and safety requirements all need to be coordinated across multiple sites.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Educational fit-out, tree bookshelf fabrication, custom counters, slotted wall panels, acoustic panels, graphic installations, circular seating, child-safe finishes, delivery and installation.

Designing Installations For Long-Term Operation

Many scenic structures are designed to operate for only a few days or weeks. Others remain in service for years. These permanent and semi-permanent environments require a fundamentally different approach to design, engineering and fabrication.

A temporary exhibition feature may only need to perform reliably throughout a short installation period. By comparison, a museum environment, visitor centre, experience centre or public installation may be expected to operate every day for several years. During that time, it must withstand repeated public interaction, cleaning, maintenance, environmental changes and the gradual replacement of integrated technology.

Long-term scenic fabrication therefore begins with a broader question. It is not simply whether an installation can be built and installed successfully, but whether it can continue to operate safely, efficiently and convincingly throughout its intended life.

Planning the Complete Installation Lifecycle

Lifecycle planning considers every stage of an installation, from early design development through fabrication, operation, maintenance, refurbishment and eventual removal or replacement.

This process should begin before materials are ordered or detailed drawings are produced. The expected operational period, visitor numbers, environmental conditions and level of physical interaction all influence the construction methodology.

A display inside a climate-controlled museum presents different challenges from an outdoor public installation exposed to heat, moisture, dust and ultraviolet light. Similarly, an interactive experience centre may require components to withstand thousands of repeated uses, while a protected interpretation display may experience relatively little physical contact.

Understanding these conditions allows designers, engineers and fabricators to make informed decisions about:

• Structural systems and expected loading
• Material durability
• Replaceable components
• Maintenance access
• Surface finishes
• Technology integration
• Cleaning requirements
• Future refurbishment
• End-of-life dismantling

Lifecycle planning does not necessarily mean making every component heavier or more expensive. It means using the appropriate material and fabrication method for the actual operational requirement.

Designing for Durability

Durability is often discussed as though it were a single material property. In practice, it depends on how materials, connections, finishes and environmental conditions interact. A robust structural frame may perform for many years, but the installation can still deteriorate quickly if decorative surfaces are vulnerable to impact or difficult to repair. Likewise, a high-quality scenic finish may fail prematurely if the substrate beneath it moves, absorbs moisture or expands under changing temperatures.

Timber, steel, aluminium, composites and specialist scenic materials each offer different advantages. The correct choice depends on the installation’s structural requirements, weight restrictions, exposure conditions, maintenance strategy and visual objectives.

Steel may provide strength and rigidity for large structural elements, while aluminium can reduce weight and improve corrosion resistance. CNC-machined timber components may be appropriate for complex architectural forms, provided edges, joints and surfaces are properly sealed and protected. Composite materials can produce lightweight sculptural elements, but their long-term performance must be considered in relation to fire requirements, impact resistance and environmental exposure.

Connections are equally important. Mechanical fixings, access panels and replaceable modules can make future repairs considerably easier than permanently bonded assemblies. Where possible, vulnerable components should be designed so they can be removed without dismantling the entire installation.

Scenic Finishes That Can Be Maintained

Scenic finishes are often responsible for the character of an environment, but they also receive much of the operational wear.

Corners, lower wall sections, hand-contact areas, display edges and interactive surfaces are particularly vulnerable. These areas may require harder coatings, sacrificial protective layers or replaceable panels. The finish specification should also consider how the installation will be cleaned and which products the operator is likely to use.

A finish that looks exceptional on installation day but cannot tolerate routine cleaning may become impractical very quickly. For this reason, sample testing should assess more than colour and texture. Samples can also be reviewed for scratch resistance, cleaning performance, colour stability, adhesion and repairability.

Repair methodology should be documented wherever bespoke scenic painting or specialist finishing techniques are used. Retaining colour references, coating specifications and application records makes it easier for maintenance teams to reproduce the original appearance later.

Maintenance Access Must Be Designed In

Access for maintenance should never be treated as an afterthought. Lighting systems, digital screens, speakers, sensors, mechanical elements and specialist finishes may all require periodic inspection, servicing or replacement.

Poor access can turn a minor maintenance task into a major dismantling exercise. A failed lighting driver should not require the removal of an entire feature wall. A digital screen should not be permanently trapped behind decorative joinery. A mechanical component should not be positioned where technicians cannot safely reach it.

Access panels must be large enough for the intended task, positioned in practical locations and detailed so they remain visually integrated with the surrounding scenic work. Where access is from above or behind, sufficient clearance should be maintained for tools, replacement parts and safe working.

The maintenance sequence should also be considered. Technicians need to understand which components must be removed first, how panels are supported and whether specialist lifting equipment is required. Where installations include suspended elements or work at height, safe maintenance positions, anchor points and access equipment may need to form part of the wider engineering strategy.

Preparing for Technology Upgrades

Technology often becomes outdated before the surrounding scenic construction reaches the end of its physical life. Screens, projectors, lighting fixtures, sensors, control systems and interactive equipment may require replacement several times during the life of a visitor centre or museum environment. Designing only around the dimensions of the original equipment can create expensive problems when replacement models differ in size, ventilation requirements or connection type.

Upgrade-ready environments use adaptable mounting systems, accessible cable routes and removable scenic panels. Equipment zones can include reasonable tolerance for future hardware, while ventilation and power systems can be planned with sufficient capacity for likely changes.

Cable containment is particularly important. Clearly organised routes, accessible junction points and documented connections make future upgrades faster and reduce the risk of damaging finished scenic surfaces.

Technology integration should also consider heat generation, airflow and noise. A projector concealed inside scenic architecture may require ventilation, filtration and acoustic treatment. These requirements should be coordinated during design development rather than added after fabrication.

Museums, Visitor Centres and Experience Environments

Museums and visitor centres often combine scenic construction, architectural finishes, graphics, display cases, lighting, interactive technology and interpretation elements within a single environment.

These installations must balance visual quality with public safety, accessibility, conservation requirements and operational practicality. High visitor numbers can place significant demands on flooring transitions, handrails, interactive components, display edges and queueing areas.

Experience centres may introduce additional complexity through moving features, immersive lighting, projection surfaces, automated sequences and concealed technical systems. The scenic construction must provide the required visual effect while allowing technicians to reach the equipment behind it.

Public-facing installations also require careful consideration of misuse and unexpected interaction. Visitors may lean against elements, touch surfaces that were not intended to be touched or place loads on projections and ledges. Scenic engineering should anticipate these behaviours rather than relying entirely on signage or supervision.

Establishing Operational Ownership

One of the most important long-term considerations is deciding who owns the installation after handover. Responsibility may be divided between the client, venue operator, facilities management team, technology supplier, specialist maintenance contractor and original fabricator. Unless these roles are clearly defined, small issues can remain unresolved until they develop into larger failures.

A practical operational plan should identify:

• Who carries out routine inspections
• Who approves repairs
• Who maintains integrated technology
• Which components have warranties
• Which materials require specialist cleaning
• Who holds spare parts and finish samples
• When preventative maintenance should take place
• Who updates drawings and technical records after modifications
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Operational ownership should be agreed before the installation opens. This allows maintenance access, documentation and spare-part requirements to be incorporated into the fabrication process.

For complex environments, the handover should include more than a set of drawings. Maintenance manuals, material schedules, paint references, equipment data, inspection requirements and replacement procedures can all support the long-term operation of the installation.

Preventative Maintenance and Inspection

Preventative maintenance is usually more effective than waiting for visible failure. Regular inspections can identify loose fixings, surface damage, water ingress, movement, worn components and ventilation problems before they become serious. Inspection frequency should reflect the type of installation, its environment and the level of public interaction.

Outdoor installations may require checks after severe weather, while interactive exhibits may need frequent operational inspections. Suspended structures, mechanical systems and load-bearing public elements may require formal inspection by competent specialists.

Maintenance information should be realistic and easy to follow. Overly complicated procedures are unlikely to be completed consistently. Clear inspection points, labelled access panels and concise maintenance schedules help operational teams manage the environment effectively.

Designing for Repair, Adaptation and Refurbishment

Long-term environments are rarely completely static. Graphics may be updated, exhibitions may change and technology may be replaced. Some spaces are refurbished gradually rather than removed and rebuilt in a single phase.

Modular construction can support this process. Replaceable graphic panels, demountable display units and mechanically fixed scenic components allow selected areas to be updated without affecting the wider installation.

Standardising concealed fixings and internal components can also simplify future repairs. Bespoke visible forms may still be required, but the systems behind them can often be rationalised.

Documentation should be updated whenever significant modifications are made. Without accurate records, maintenance teams may not know which materials, fixings or services are concealed behind finished surfaces.

Thinking Beyond Installation Day

Successful long-term installations balance immediate project objectives with future operational realities. The most effective environments are not only visually convincing when they open; they remain safe, functional and practical to operate years after the original installation has been completed.

This requires collaboration between creative designers, technical designers, engineers, fabricators, technology specialists and operational teams. Decisions made during early design development can reduce future maintenance costs, improve safety and extend the useful life of the environment.

For scenic fabricators, designing for long-term operation means thinking beyond the completed appearance. It means considering how structures will be inspected, how finishes will be repaired, how technology will be upgraded and how the installation will eventually be adapted or dismantled. The quality of a long-term installation is ultimately measured not only by how it looks on opening day, but by how successfully it continues to perform throughout its complete operational life.

Ideas festivals need environments that encourage conversation, discovery and collaboration among audiences with different interests and backgrounds. For the 2019 Ideas Festival at NYU Abu Dhabi, Tamkeen commissioned Evolution Scenic to create an engaging event environment centred on culture, knowledge and innovation.

The festival welcomed adults, teenagers and young professionals while providing a platform for thinkers, innovators and influencers from the UAE, the GCC and beyond.

Evolution Scenic designed and fabricated large-scale artistic installations combining geometric timber structures with vibrant graphics. Multi-functional scenic spaces were also created for discussions, workshops and networking activities.

The Challenge

The event environment needed to appeal to a broad audience while supporting several different forms of participation. Discussions, workshops, networking and informal interaction each required spaces suited to their specific purpose.

The scenic design also needed to communicate Abu Dhabi’s identity as a modern, knowledge-driven capital while celebrating UAE culture and the city’s growing role as a centre for creativity and innovation.

These ideas had to be translated into visually distinctive structures without limiting the flexibility required by the festival programme.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic designed and fabricated large-scale art installations using geometric timber structures and vibrant applied graphics.

The combination of three-dimensional forms and bold graphic treatments created a recognisable visual identity for the festival while expressing themes of culture, knowledge and innovation.

Versatile scenic elements were produced to support discussions, workshops and networking activities. These multi-functional environments enabled the event programme to accommodate different formats and audience groups within a coordinated setting.

Thematic features inspired by UAE culture and Abu Dhabi’s position as a centre for knowledge and creativity were incorporated throughout the scenic approach.

Detailed fabrication and high-quality finishing ensured the individual installations formed a polished and immersive environment across the festival.

Delivery Highlights

• Scenic production for the Ideas Festival
• Installation at NYU Abu Dhabi
• Large-scale artistic installations
• Geometric timber structures
• Vibrant applied graphics
• Multi-functional festival spaces
• Discussion environments
• Workshop areas
• Networking spaces
• Design for adults and younger audiences
• Integration of UAE cultural themes
• Visual storytelling around knowledge and innovation
• Detailed scenic fabrication
• High-quality finishes
• Venue installation

Outcome

The completed environment supported a varied programme of discussions, workshops and networking while giving the festival a strong visual identity.

Large-scale geometric installations and colourful graphics created distinctive focal points throughout the venue. Flexible scenic spaces allowed different audience groups to participate in the festival’s activities and connect with one another.

Through considered design, specialist timber fabrication and detailed finishing, Evolution Scenic created an environment that reflected the festival’s focus on culture, creativity and knowledge sharing.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Scenic design, large-scale art installations, geometric timber fabrication, graphic integration, multi-functional event spaces, cultural features, finishing and venue installation.

Festival floats combine storytelling and scenic fabrication with the practical requirements of vehicle integration, transport, assembly and live operation.

For Mansour Festival, held at Zayed Sports Complex in Abu Dhabi from 15 to 17 November 2024, Evolution Scenic designed and fabricated two custom truck-mounted floats featuring characters from the festival.

The floats were developed as prominent visual attractions and mobile platforms for the characters. Lightweight cladding, modular assembly and maintenance access were incorporated into their technical design, allowing the scenic structures to operate effectively throughout the event.

The Challenge

Both floats needed to translate the festival’s characters and visual identity into large three-dimensional scenic structures while remaining suitable for installation onto trucks.

The cladding had to be lightweight and straightforward to assemble on site. It also needed to provide access to the vehicle and technical components so maintenance teams could conduct inspections and repairs when required.

Delayed approvals affected the time available for technical development and production. The project was also delivered alongside other themed builds, creating competing demands on workshop resources and the production schedule.

Despite these constraints, both floats needed to be completed on time without compromising their structural requirements, finish quality or safe operation.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic developed the technical designs required to transform the creative concepts into practical truck-mounted scenic structures.

The float cladding was fabricated using lightweight construction methods to limit unnecessary weight and simplify on-site assembly and disassembly. Removable and accessible sections were incorporated so technical teams could reach vehicle components for maintenance and repairs.

Each float was tailored to the Mansour Festival theme and designed to provide a visible platform for its characters. Scenic forms, finishes and graphic details were coordinated to ensure the completed structures contributed to the wider festival environment.

When approval delays reduced the available production period, the team adapted the technical-design and fabrication programme to maintain progress. Workshop resources were coordinated across concurrent projects to keep production moving towards the required installation date.

Both floats were completed and delivered in time for the festival at Zayed Sports Complex.

Delivery Highlights

• Two custom-designed festival floats
• Truck-mounted scenic structures
• Platforms for Mansour Festival characters
• Lightweight scenic cladding
• Modular on-site assembly
• Efficient disassembly
• Integrated technical-maintenance access
• Custom technical design
• Theme-specific scenic detailing
• Coordination around delayed approvals
• Delivery alongside concurrent themed projects
• Workshop-resource management
• Quality and safety considerations
• On-time completion
• Installation at Zayed Sports Complex

Outcome

The two completed floats became prominent visual attractions at Mansour Festival, providing dedicated platforms for the festival’s characters and reinforcing the event’s identity.

Their lightweight and modular construction supported efficient assembly, while incorporated access points allowed technical teams to inspect and maintain the underlying vehicle systems during the event.

By adapting the production programme around delayed approvals and overlapping workshop schedules, Evolution Scenic delivered both floats on time while maintaining the required scenic and technical standards.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Technical design, lightweight truck cladding, modular float fabrication, character-themed scenic detailing, maintenance-access integration, production coordination and on-site installation.