Johannesburg based In2Structures – part of the Gearhouse South Africa Group of Companies - has sold one of its Supa (SP) Dome structures to Abu Dhabi based Flash Entertainment LLC, the largest and most proactive live music promoter and event organiser in the UAE.
The 8-bay 84 metre long by 36 metre wide SupaDome structure is known as the Flash Forum and will provide a multi purpose venue with up to 5000 capacity on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi for at least the next 3 years.
The first event staged in the Flash Forum took place during the weekend of the final race of the 2010 Formula 1 Championship, when it was managed by legendary Beirut club, Skybar, who energised their unique and exclusive ambience in Abu Dhabi .
Erected adjacent to the F1 race track and opposite the luxury Yas Hotel, Skybar transformed the Dome into a hugely glamorous premium VVIP environment to entertain up to 1800 gliterati and A-listers for each of the 3 nights. Running 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., Skybar featured a host of international DJs and other leading artists in a star-studded line up including Ferry Corsten, Grammy Award winning Kelis and Sean Paul, British dance phenomenon Basement Jaxx, UK rapper Tinie Tempah and many more.
A major highlight was a special appearance by Prince, playing a ‘secret' gig on the Friday night, which really got the weekend partying started!
Flash Events' operations director Lee Charteris was looking for a solution to provide a good sized venue, with decent weight loadings, great aesthetics and distinctive branding opportunities in Abu Dhabi. A number of structures were reviewed. He needed it to be adaptable enough to stage anything from live concerts and parties to corporate events, exhibitions and presentations, etc.
He was already aware of the Gearhouse SA In2Structures Domes, and on a recent visit to South Africa, met with In2Structures' Otto Wijnberger and Gearhouse SA's MD Ofer Lapid to discuss the Dome specifications and options available.
Explains Charteris, “I was shown around the structure and was immediately impressed - it is simple, beautiful and had all the functionality we required for the installation of substantial production elements, plus plenty of flexibility for rigging and different layouts with movable doors, etc. It was exactly what we needed – something truly dynamic”.
With a weight loading of 2.5 tonnes per arch, an additional load arch (5 tonnes) was purchased for the Flash Forum to give 12 - 15 tonnes over the stage area when in the end-on position.
With an impressive 15.8 metres of headroom, the SP Dome has plenty of height to stage all types of shows, and rigging points throughout the roof.
The structure was installed by a team of 18 specialists from In2Structures, a task completed in just 6 days.
When operating as the Skybar, the interior Dome layout replicated the design, quality, look and feel of the famous club as closely as possible. The stage was built on the long side of the Dome and tiered decking areas were installed 270 degrees around the space in a traditional Majlis format, with a central bar.
The staging, decking and metalwork was all supplied by Al Laith Scaffolding from Dubai. The technical production package - sound, lighting and AV equipment including 10 flown lighting pods, 3 circular and 5 finger trusses above the stage areas, high and low res video screens and an L-Acoustics sound system - came from Dubai based Eclipse … whose Darren Hodge created a production design together with Skybar's Hiljo Stadt. Additional Vari Lites were supplied by Wide Angle.
Some of the Eclipse equipment will remain in place to provide the Flash Forum's production/house lighting and sound rigs. Hodge comments that the Dome is an extremely good and practical space in which to work.
Inaugural events don't come much higher profile than an F1 Championship, and Charteris and his team are absolutely delighted with the purchase. Having the SP Dome gives them the scope for a diverse range of future projects, and also brings an atmospheric venue to Abu Dhabi in which to stage cutting edge events for around 4-5000 people - which has been lacking until now.
This is the second Dome that Gearhouse SA In2Structures has supplied to the UAE - following the installation of a Maxi Dome on the left bank of Dubai creek with the InterContinental Dubai Festival City as a backdrop.
For more press information on Gearhouse In2Structures, please call Louise Stickland on +44 (0)1865 202679/+44 (0)7831 329888/[email protected]. To contact Gearhouse In2Structures direct, call Robyn D'Alessandro on +27