Double-Deck Exhibit Services in Chicago, IL
A double-deck exhibit doesn't get built on a hunch. It gets built on a stamped engineering drawing, because every venue in the Chicago market wants that paperwork before a second story goes up on the show floor.
Chicago project focus
- Venue-aware execution planning
- Chicago venue and install context
- Show-ready next steps
What has to be locked before a double-deck build starts
Stamped structural drawings from a licensed engineer, submitted to the venue and fire marshal well ahead of move-in
A load path and stair or elevator plan that meets accessibility and fire-code requirements for the upper deck
Rigging and material handling coordinated with the venue's union jurisdiction before the schedule is locked
The stamped drawing set kept synced to the actual as-built structure through final approval
What a stamped drawing actually needs to show
A structural drawing that satisfies a venue review isn't only a set of dimensions. It has to show load calculations, connection details, and a licensed engineer's stamp specific to the jurisdiction, and it has to match the actual as-built structure, not an earlier design revision that got changed after the engineering was completed.
Double-deck exhibit services teams keep the engineering package synced with the current design revision through final approval, since a mismatch between the stamped drawing and the built structure is one of the fastest ways to get flagged during an on-site venue inspection.
Keep the stamped drawing set synced with the final design revision, not an earlier version
Bring a physical copy of the approved engineering package on-site for the venue inspection
Engineering approval drives the whole schedule
McCormick Place, like most large convention venues, requires stamped structural drawings and a certificate of insurance before a double-deck exhibit gets cleared for install. That review has to happen weeks ahead of the show, not during move-in week, because a rejected drawing at that point means either a redesign under pressure or a scaled-down single-story fallback.
The teams that build double-deck exhibits regularly in this market start the engineering submission the moment the design is locked, not after the crates ship. Waiting until move-in week to find out a drawing needs revision is the single most avoidable failure in this category of work.
Weight, footprint, and neighboring booths
A second-story structure changes the load calculation for the entire footprint, and it changes what's happening around the booth too. Venues want to know how a double-deck build affects sightlines and egress for neighboring exhibitors, not only structural integrity for the booth itself.
That review adds a layer double-deck exhibit services teams plan for from the start: confirming aisle clearance, upper-deck occupancy limits, and how the structure reads from the show floor before a single panel goes up.
Confirm upper-deck occupancy limits with the fire marshal, not only the general contractor
Check sightline impact on adjacent booths before finalizing the footprint, since venues will flag it during review
Install sequencing on a compressed dock schedule
Double-deck structures take longer to install than a single-story build of the same footprint, and the labor call has to reflect that. Rigging the lower structure, running utilities to the upper deck, and completing stair or elevator installation all happen in sequence, not in parallel, which means the install window needs real buffer built in.
Winter shows compress that buffer further. A McCormick Place move-in during a February show like the Chicago Auto Show runs against tighter dock scheduling than a spring or fall event, and double-deck crews that don't account for weather-related freight delays end up racing the clock on install day.
Dismantle carries its own set of rules
Coming down is not the reverse of going up on a double-deck structure. Upper-deck utilities have to be de-energized and disconnected before structural teardown starts, and rigging crews need the same coordination on the way out that they needed on the way in.
Programs that treat dismantle as an afterthought on a double-deck build usually pay for it in overtime labor once move-out compresses against the venue's hard deadline for the hall. Planning the teardown sequence with the same care as the install sequence avoids that outcome.
De-energize and disconnect upper-deck power before any structural teardown begins
Schedule rigging crews for both directions of the show, not only install