"Energy Best Practice" Pavilion, EXPO 2017, Astana/Kazakhstan

Client:	JSC National Company "Astana Expo 2017"
Commissioned by:	Azhan LLP
Date:	10th June to 10th September 2017
Location:	Astana, Kazakhstan

Services:	Audio, Video, Lighting, Rigging, Event-IT (electrical and network infrastructure)
Project Managers:	Jens Gießler and Felix Erdmann
Branch Offices:	Munich (project controlling) Düsseldorf (project planning and execution) Frankfurt (personnel dispatching) Leipzig (storage and logistics)
Special features:	The client was a public body and we had to execute and document our services for the client and its inspection institutions in accordance with Kazakh standards and regulations. Three months for planning and installation, before that in-house development and production of drives and bespoke components. Complex logistics for a tight time frame.

"Future Energy: Action for Global Sustainability" was the slogan of the world's fair 2017 held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The focus was on a sufficient and reliable supply of energy in developing countries as well as on the transition from fossil fuels to renewable forms of energy. In an exhibition area covering 25 hectares, over 100 countries focused on the reduction of CO2 emissions, energy efficiency and "energy for all."

We were responsible for the planning and technical realisation of audio, light, video and event IT as well as for the corresponding infrastructure of the "Energy Best Practice" presentation. This pavilion was the symbolic central point of the EXPO and presented pioneering technologies as well as a wide range of different forms of sustainable energy.

Divided into six thematic areas on two floors, the "Energy Stream" light sculpture was the connecting element. It was formed by 30 parallel splines made of a total of 9,000 metres of RGB-LED FlexStrips. We were able to control each pixel individually and animated content was displayed using pixel-mapping software.

An N&M team headed by Robin Agarwal developed and planned the entire control system in-house especially for this project; some of the components were bespoke products manufactured to our specifications. A glassfibre network with redundant design formed the backbone of the control system. We installed 30 high-performance access points for a stable WiFi for the app with which visitors were able interact with exhibits and access information.

Following awarding of the contract, we only had three months for technical planning, procurement and installation work. We also had to develop the control system and produce bespoke components in-house. Not every component could be delivered in the required quantity, and so we were forced to look for alternatives. Some of these had to be flown in from China and subsequently tested. The equipment was delivered to Astana by air cargo so that we could adhere to the tight schedule. It was only thanks to a well-rehearsed logistics process honed during other EXPO projects that we were able to execute the project smoothly and efficiently and within the required time frame.