Keeping a high end fashion show cool in desert

When this globally-famous fashion brand decided to host a fashion show in the Las Vegas desert, they had an awesome concept: an 80-meter clear dome where sunlight could stream in. The problem was, while the venue was a cool concept, the inside of the dome was very hot, and with the structure being clear, the desert sun magnified the intensity of the heat.

What's more, the unusual shape and lack of entry points made it impossible to place air conditioners high up, where they would be most effective. Cooling this structure, keeping the guests and models in comfortable conditions and maintaining the expensive clothing designs in pristine conditions would be a tough challenge indeed.

We didn't want to ruin the aesthetics of this glamorous event, so all equipment was placed outside the dome, with a small AC to cool the generators under the desert sun.

The lack of air inputs near the top of the dome meant that we couldn't put air conditions high up near the ceiling. Instead, our team funnelled in the tubes and ducts at floor level and used diffusers to get the cool air flowing around the dome.

Thanks to this cooling system, we were able to keep the dome under the target temperature for the whole two days – right through both fashion shows under the blazing Nevada sun, and through the night as the venue filled up for the elegant after party.