BEST TABLE SCAPE DESIGN Urban Rooftop Garden CATIE AWARDS 2017
SYNOPSIS Dinner under the stars, rubbing elbows with basketball greats and a private concert by Earth, Wind & Fire. For some it may be just another casual Thursday. But it s also the hottest ticket in town for one of the city s most exclusive galas with stunning views of the city bay and downtown skyline. be a winner. Imagine plush seating, carpet floors, gilded accents, pattern plays, mirrors and long stemmed callas under the moonlight... (Pass the champagne please!) When challenged to produce a tablescape that would break away from client tradition, that would impress without impeding foodservice and soften a concrete heavy fan zone, we knew our concept for a modern table inspired by swanky city rooftops would In this city, galas tend to be a bit repetitive. Same venues (hotels), same theme (diamonds and glitz), same people (this feels like prom). We love this particular gala for its uniqueness and exclusivity, allowing you to enjoy an intimate evening CONCEPT t ttabl e escape Tabl ScapeDesign Design 2017 2017CATIE CATIEAwards Awards
overlooking the most breathtaking views of the bay and downtown skyline with 179 other guests (that will become friends by the end!) Our challenge was to finally, after almost ten years, convince the team President and his wife to break away from traditional 60 round tables with linens and Chiavari chairs. Each prior year, this gala was hosted at a private home, requiring a great deal of tenting and flooring. However, the arena had a newly renovated plaza space, featuring open sides, stellar LEED rated lighting, 360 LED screens and an unmatched view. This felt like the year to shake things up a bit, plus, with the venue change, the wind would present a challenge with linens that we would need to address with a new table concept. Given the location of the arena and the views from the plaza, our concept was to soften the concrete space while adding a modern feel to the table settings. Our client had always loved round tables because she felt the guests were closer together, therefore moving to a modern tablescape meant the dining experience still needed to feel intimate. Our plan of action t Tabl e Scape Design 2017 CATIE Awards
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included switching to linen-less royal tables, decreasing the guest count per table and enclosing the terrace to keep the space cozy. THE EVENT locker room. Guests made their way upstairs to the practice court, where they could shoot a few baskets with the players and experience a typical practice day with the team. This one of a kind experience set the stage for a fantastic evening! Guests began their gala experience by arriving at the VIP entrance used by players, coaches and suite holders. As guests walked the red carpet, they were escorted to the newly renovated locker room where the players awaited. In this space, guests toured the physical therapy area, played pool in the locker lounge and had their photos taken with customized jerseys and the championship trophies in the The jaw dropping moment came as guests made their way outside and up the stairs to arrive at the terrace level. Rounding the corner, they entered our rooftop garden, an event space so transformed that even the team and arena staff could barely recognize it! The plaza had been completely custom carpeted, hiding the concrete pavers underneath. t Tabl e Scape Design 2017 CATIE Awards
The terrace, far too large for the guest count, had been enclosed with fencing wrapped on both sides by faux greens then accented with gilded mirrors and cascading florals. (This also created a close and well-hidden back of house space for catering!) The tablescape design hit all client goals. The concept was built around a mix of soft curves and hard lines, inspired by the elements of concrete and garden walls. White acrylic tables with curved legs stood on rich black carpet. Rounded high back chairs with dual seat and back cushions in all black gave an elegant feel and comfortable seating. The white table top featured a custom laser cut gold hexagon pattern that was hand applied to each table onsite. The dinner chargers consisted of hexagon mirrors with folded black silk napkins and red dinner menus for a color pop. Complementing the black and gold theme, modern brushed gold flatware was used at each place setting, paired with a square wine goblet, coordinating champagne flute and black tulip accent water glass. The floral centerpieces added the final touch of modern softness to t ttabl e escape Tabl ScapeDesign Design 2017 2017CATIE CATIEAwards Awards
the tablescape. A total of nine glass vases ran down the center of each table. Floating white orchids, white anemone bouquets, pave arrangements of white roses and glass succulent terrariums were staged low to allow for visibility. The finishing touches were two large glass vases with long stemmed open cut callas, creating the perfect skyline frame. With a total seat count of of eight guests per table, each felt like an intimate dinner party, as the rows of tables curved towards an incredible stage production and LED dancefloor. The event was not without challenges of course. Hosting an evening with the players meant working around the basketball season schedule. With a game the night before, design setup had to be conducted overnight to be ready for catering setup by 3:00 PM the following day. The plaza could not be closed off to guests due to sponsor rules, therefore the transformation began at the close of the 3rd quarter. Existing furniture, food carts and vendor booths were broken down and moved before carpeting could begin at 11:00 PM. The team worked directly through the night until noon the next day, setting all floor and perimeter décor plus tables and chairs, before t Tabl e Scape Design 2017 CATIE Awards
returning the following evening to finish each table setting. At sundown on gala night, all knew it was well worth the effort! The design concept was a hit and the guests had a fantastic time. Not only were the team President and his wife thrilled with the finished design concept, but the CMO proudly confirmed that we will never again return to basic table linens! tt Tabl Tabl e e Scape Scape Design Design 2017 2017 CATIE CATIE Awards Awards