A tall order

A holiday party includes custom tenting over a tall structure.

Cocktails under a pergola sounds simple enough. But All Occasions Event Rental of Cincinnati, Ohio, reached for new heights with an installation for a holiday party this past December.

The client wanted to host festivities for 400 guests at their home, but only if a 21-foot-tall pergola could be incorporated into the event, with a seamless transition from home to patio to tents.

“They felt that the pergola was the centerpiece for the event,” says Tommy Wilson, director of event services for All Occasions. “We had to come up with a structure that was tall enough to clear the tallest part of the pergola, and that was 21 feet tall.”

Wilson reached out to Losberger US for advice on what product would work best at 10 meters, given the site restrictions.

“We were not allowed to drive anything heavy like a forklift or manlift in the grass or on the patio area,” Wilson says. “This limited the beam profile to something we could raise with a Spydercrane and manpower. We decided that Losberger’s uniflex profile would be a perfect match for the job.”

All Occasions shot grade with a laser to determine the leg heights and gave them to Losberger to fabricate the frame.

“It was a perfect fit,” Wilson says.

The biggest challenges for this installation turned out to be the restricted site access and obstacles at the site.

“The pergola has an automated roof louver system that is not load bearing,” Wilson says. “We had to use a man basket on the Spydercrane for any of the overhead work, and that makes it very slow. It was difficult to use ladders in many parts of the project due to the terrain. We just took our time, and made sure we were being as safe as possible throughout the installation.”
Time was something they did have, as the client was flexible with their schedule. Tenting was installed over a three-day period, and the strike required one day. Anchoring was achieved through a combination of ballast, staking and concrete anchors.
In addition to tenting with clear and white sidewalls, All Occasions supplied chandeliers, bourbon barrel and barnwood bars, bourbon barrel tables with glass tops, fruitwood Chiavari chairs, a hardwood-style vinyl flooring, power and heat, and additional event accessories.

It was difficult to articulate to the client exactly what the finished space would look like, Wilson says, but when she saw the finished product, she was thrilled.

“It showcased one of our most challenging projects to a group of clients and potential clients who are tough to impress,” he says. “We are firm believers in the mantra that you have to stretch if you want to grow. This project was definitely a stretch for us. It challenged our way of thinking.

“We all get comfortable and set in our ways,” he continues. “I believe it’s good to take on a project that scares you from time to time. I’m not advocating reckless business practices, but I would encourage taking calculated risks for the right opportunity.”