Our Temporary Structure Design & Construction Process
To get the most out of your temporary structure it takes the right approach. At InProduction, we’ve established a reliable process built on three phases to help create a seamless experience.
Phase 1: Project Estimate & Proposal
When someone reaches out to us for a temporary structure we ask some basic questions to gather the details needed to provide an estimate. The more information we can gather upfront about the project, the more accurate we can be with costs. Some of the questions we ask include:
What is the size of your event & how many people will be in the temporary structure?
As a general rule of thumb, you can use these figures for estimates:
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10 sq ft per person for an open building
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15 sq ft per person for a building with a basic furniture layout
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20-25 sq ft per person for a VIP space
What is the look you are going for?
The answer to this question varies widely from project to project so the more descriptive you can be, the more capable we’ll be of providing you the ideal look and feel in a structure design.
For example, you might say you’re looking for something with vertical glass and solid wall panels, a more traditional looking structure and what we call our modern product. Then again, you might be looking to upgrade that look to something with a higher-end finish and built-in architectural features. We call that our ultra-modern structure. You might describe that you prefer a flat roof on the structure, this makes the structure look more permanent once installed, verses the pitched roof which looks more like a tent. Any details are fair game at this step and the more you can share the better.
Other types of questions we’ll ask:
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What do you have planned for inside the structure?
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What are the dates of the event?
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Have you looked into how much time there is to install and dismantle the entire project?
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What city will the building be in? This is important because every city has codes that need to be met.
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Is union labor required? Union labor can be a big cost difference.
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Will it be single level or two-story? We’ll probably need a crane if it’s two-story.
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What does the venue look like? Is it asphalt, concrete, dirt, on a slope, in a parking lot?
In general there are 2 aspects to every structure project:
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The physical structure components
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The customization (exterior and interior)
Many people jump right into the aesthetics but there are some less exciting details that need to be figured out in order to make everything work out.
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For example, if the site is in a parking lot we’ll need to know about access to the site. Just as important is how we are going to anchor the structure. If we can we put stakes in the ground, which is the easiest and most cost effective anchoring method, we’ll need to know if there is anything in the ground like water and electrical lines. It is helpful to know if we able to drive onto the site and right to the install location. These details are critically important and can greatly impact the feasibility and costs of a project.
Once we know the size of the building, the design, and the use of the structure, and basic logistical details, we can give you a ballpark estimate that’s fairly accurate.
What To Expect Once Questions Are Answered
Even with seemingly straightforward projects, there are unique factors to deal with on every project. These questions help us prepare for that and set expectations accordingly. Once the questions are answered, you can expect the following:
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You’ll get samples images – We’ll show you examples of projects we’ve completed in the past that are in line with what you’ve described. Many of these designs can be found on the website. This allows you (and us) to start getting involved in the design process early on.
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You’ll get a proposal – After showing you examples, we’ll work on getting you a cost proposal. If time has passed (which is common), we’ll go over the requirements of the structure again to make sure nothing new has been added. Once we get updates and approvals, we’re ready to move to the design and engineering phase.
Phase 2: Structure Design & Engineering
When it comes time for the design and engineering of your temporary structure, we’ll go through three steps to complete this phase. They include:
1. Design Renderings
While you look over the proposal, our team will develop a rendering of the interior and exterior of your temporary structure. This allows us to have it prepared for you as soon as you’re ready to proceed.
2. Technical Drawing
The technical drawing is a line design of the structure. It shows the load-carrying members of the structure like supports, cross beams, etc. As soon as a structure is designed, and the cost approved, we get to work on this.
It’s typically a 2 week process but it can be longer if it’s a large project. Once the drawings are complete, our engineers review it, sign off on it and it’s ready to be submitted with the permitting package.
3. Work Through Details
Inevitably, there are always details that need to be worked through to get to the final, agreed-upon structure. We’ve built this into our process to make sure it runs as smoothly as possible.
Interior Design & Planning
Most people think the structure rental fee is the bulk of the cost, but most often it’s the interior of the structure and custom elements that can require the most attention. In fact, the interior is often the most expensive part of these types of projects.
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For the customization of some elements, we partner with specialized suppliers to create a complete turnkey package. This includes elements like power, lighting, flooring, and furniture.
To simplify the process, we help manage this for you and can wrap it into your total costs so you don’t have to deal with it separately. We have the resources to do as little or as much as you want, making InProduction a unique partner.
Phase 3: Logistics & Installation
The final phase of the process involves planning out the logistics and the installation of the structure. This phase typically includes the following steps:
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Logistical Planning
During logistical planning, we’ll map out what is needed to physically make this structure work. Some things we might consider would include:
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The need for a forklift and how we’ll utilize it onsite
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The need for a crane for 2 and 3 story structures
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Other equipment will we need and how much of it – This includes scissor lifts, scaffolding, ladders, spikes, weights, temporary generators power and much, much more
We’ll also have to account for shipping to the location. This often includes:
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Is there a marshaling area?
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Can the materials go directly to the site?
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Is there a site manager? Do we need to check in with him/her?
After planning out the logistics of the structure construction, we can start making it happen. The installation process typically looks something like this:
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Loading materials onto trucks
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Shipping
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Offloading materials
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Installation
A 10mx10m temporary structure can take as little as two days to completely construct and a day to dismantle. For larger buildings the timing varies dramatically but it can be weeks or months if the structure is large and the interior has a lot of custom work. Factors that impact the timeline the most are access to the site, ground conditions, materials, and customization.
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After the structure is constructed and you hold your event, we’ll dismantle the structure and removal of materials. This usually takes about half the time or even less than it takes to build it.