The exclusive new style 2-day corporate event with music - headlined by The Who as part of their Teenage Cancer Trust work - describes itself as a 'festival of networking' for the Hedge Fund Industry - with the adage "because conventions don't have to be conventional".
Serious was asked onboard by production manager Nick Fisher with whom they've worked on several projects. Fisher was brought in by organisers Albourne Partners to co-ordinate the supply of all the technical production and infrastructure, which also included Entec (sound) and PRG (lighting).
The Serious team of 20 crew and riggers was led by Aleksis Zarins. The site build started 14 days in advance and was completed in two sections - with Serious's modular black decking going in first - proving perfect for the undulating ground. This was followed by a break during the late May Bank Holiday to allow Knebworth House to open to the public - and the stage roof was erected after that.
The stage was built on uneven ground, with the stage left side 1.5m higher than the stage right side. Serious also supplied all decking, ramps, steps handrails, etc. for the main stage, decking for several large corporate hospitality arenas around the arena, plus a 12 metre Orbit structure for the 'second' stage, FOH platforms for both stages and a two follow spot towers for the main stage.
The main stage Space Roof was finished in standard silver and black skins. Serious launched the Space Roof last year. It's specifically designed for large festivals and concerts, maximising space and efficiency for all working personnel and performers. The roof is built from Space truss, a space-efficient steel truss system also used for a range of building structures of up to 60m in span.
The roof utilises a new flatter profile with vertical legs. The modular main arches are spaced 4.8m apart so clients can tailor the stage depth to their exact requirements. The roof features a flat rear gable end which maximizes the usable covered area and an angled, load bearing cantilever arch providing front-of-stage cover and convenient rigging points for front lighting.
The standard maximum trim height is 15.8m for the 25m roof. Each standard arch has a distributed load capacity of 11 tonnes, with the front cantilever arch supporting a distributed load of over six tonnes.
(Chris Henry)
