ExCel London – 2012 Olympic Celebration
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Over 1.3 million visitors travelled to ExCeL London, drawn to the 13 sport disciplines on show over the period of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The busiest day was Monday 30th July, with 70,000 spectators coming through the venue’s doors,
As a lasting celebration, Equinox Partners developed and built this installation – the twelve 1 metre square, waterjet-cut porcelain tiles combined with illuminated laminated glass and stainless steel – to create a major long-term legacy for ExCeL London to celebrate their contribution to the biggest sporting event in the World.
The graphic console at the foot of the 5 metre-high display factually describes ExCeL’s achievements in 2012 and features photos and hand-castings of London Mayor, Boris Johnson; Lord Coe, Chairman of the British Olympic Committee and the 4 Gold metal- winning GB athletes, Jade Jones, Nicola Adams, Luke Campbell and Anthony Joshua – all set a height that allows full public interaction, especially with ExCeL’s younger visitors.
For more information, read our blog https://equinoxpartners.co.uk/title-2/
As part of the interactivity of the display and to engage with the public, we included glassfibre handcastings from Lord Sebastian Coe, Boris Johnson and the four ExCeL Gold medal winners. Anthony Joshua (pictured), Jade Jones, Luke Campbell and Nicola Adams.
It is a great experience meeting the athletes and the personalities involved. Lord Coe, Chairman of the British Olympic Association and Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, were chiefly involved with securing the 2012 Games of Great Britain. ExCeL London are proud to be able to display these unique memorabilia.
Equinox Partners planned out each of the six castings and obtained lasercut lettering to go into the moulding process. Anthony Joshua’s hands, as you might expect from an 106 kg heavyweight boxer with size 16 feet, had to be accommodated in an extra-large plaque. His fingers are 2 cms longer than the average person’s!
A big Thank You to Steve and Barbara Cole from Articole Studios for their work on the hand-castings. Good Luck with the move to Shropshire!
After 65 hours of generating proposals, the site within the Excel premises was settled on and a survey had to be undertaken to determine the structure available to support 12 x 60kg panels.
The skin shown was a lightweight system, but behind it was a more substantial steel structure that could be used to carry the porcelain and steel 1 metre square icons.
Measurements taken and engineers consulted, work could get underway!
Happy clients! Many thanks to External Affairs Director, James Mark, and Gemma Parkhouse, Head of Marketing at Excel. Both have moved on to other organisations. James went on to become Strategy Director at Therme Group developing their new Wellness Park at Old Trafford, Manchester, but has now returned to Excel as Director of Venue Services. Congratulations, James (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmark/).
The Excel Display to celebrate the venue’s contribution to the 2012 London Olympics consists of 12 porcelain, glass and steel panels, each 1 metre square and over 60kg in weight.
Internally illuminated by colour changing LEDs the display presents a vibrant visual experience to both casual visitors and businesses seeking to present themselves at Excel’s outstanding and expansive exhibition halls.
