“In all my years here this is the most stunning and classy display I have seen. Nailed it!”
Kara Kotwas Designer, Shedd AquariumHoliday Installation: Shedd Aquarium
We were selected to create the new holiday seasonal installation at Chicago’s historic Shedd Aquarium through at least 2018. We collaborated with the planning and development department and proposed many additional features from their limited budget. Some of our original ideas were perhaps too playful for a historic and relatively conservative institution, and we’re grateful for them taking a risk on the ideas they did select. I think we succeeded in creating a bright and warm holiday atmosphere with a few exciting elements. Our original “snow globe” experience in the rotunda is especially fun to experience in person and a favorite of guests and employees, and perhaps the aquatic residents as well.
One of several trees just outside the rotunda.
The highlight of the seasonal installation is our one-of-a-kind snow globe effect in the rotunda.
The final snowflake patterns were a collaborative effort with the museum designers.
We added floods of colored light in the foyer, able to be utilized for other occasions.
One of four traditionally decorated evergreen swags.
We created an efficient support system for the band of mini-lights that runs the perimeter of the foyer, a difficult installation location.
We were responsible for designing and constructing every component which included a variety of traditional evergreen items.
One of 5 evergreen dolphin topiary, treated like Christmas trees.
We lobbied for cool white or light blue lights, but the warm white are also nice.
The dolphins range from 5 to almost 8 ft. in length.
The complete dolphin pod.
We used a collection of 6 different types of evergreen material.
The final snowflake patterns, paired down from nearly double this amount.
An early proposal featured large cut-out snowflakes.
An initial concept rendering.
Early concepts were a bit more playful with a multitude of evergreen “Christmas tree” fish and light strings in a wave formation.
The original dolphin topiary rendering.
We rather enjoyed this rendering of a more playful fish and a shark topiary concept.
An early concept of a large turtle evergreen topiary “Christmas tree”.
A final approved rendering is surprisingly close to the final installation.
A final approved rendering is surprisingly close to the final installation.
Final approved rendering of the rotunda.
Adding lights to one of the smaller dolphin topiary.
0 Comments