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Last month’s pyrotechnics-rich gala launch of the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, presented unique and unprecedented challenges to the production design team. Aaron Greenwood reports.
At 828 metres tall, the Burj Khalifa represents a triumph of human engineering and a riposte to Dubai’s recent band of critics.
The gala launch of the building, which was four years in the making, was spearheaded by Dubai-based event production firm Prisme International, with the showcase fireworks display sub-contracted to renowned French pyrotechnics outfit Groupe F.
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Prisme International CEO Pierre Marcout described his company’s role in the launch as the realisation of a long-held ambition.
“For three years, I have been dreaming that I would design the inauguration of the Burj and now I have,” he says.
“We didn’t want to make the opening ceremony about any celebrities, as the celebrity is the Burj Khalifa tower. We wanted to magnify the 828m of the tower for all that is… as it is truly one-of-a-kind.”
With Prisme being awarded the contract in the third week of November and the launch planned for January 4, time was of the essence for Marcout and his production team.
The theme of the event took inspiration from natural elements, such as light and water, mixed with distinctly Arabian themes, such as the Hymenocalis desert flower, which in itself was an inspiration for the architectural design of the tower.
“I wanted the audience to hear about the story of the Burj Khalifa through different elements, such as light, water, fireworks and, of course, the projected images to support the narration of the story,” explains Marcout.
The height of the building wasn’t the only record breaker revealed on the night – a 72,000W light projector, the biggest ever used, illuminated the structure during the course of the opening ceremony.
In addition, 320 space canon projectors – the most ever employed at a single event in the Middle East – created a shadow effect outlining the tower.
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