International Theatre Engineering & Architecture Conference 2014
Established Established in 2002 and held every four years, the ITEA conference provides a forum for industry professionals and a platform from which to examine the future of performance spaces. Taking place this year at the University of London, the conference gathered around a hundred guest speakers and panellists who were asked to share their specialist knowledge, experience and ideas with delegates in a series of talks and discussions.
Technical Director, Jim Tinsley, was one of a panel of four, joining Aran Chadwick, Rastislav Bartek and Steve Porter speaking under the title of ‘Engineering the Large Spectacular: The London Olympics’. The panel was moderated by Pier Shepperd, Technical Director of the London 2012 Ceremonies.
Jim outlined the unique engineering challenges posed by large scale public events, taking the delegates through Stage One’s approach to finding ingenious solutions for unusual problems. From the development of our cablenet system which was used to fly the huge 18 segment sculpture for the Athens 2004 Olympic ceremonies, to working in the unpredictable inflatable roof of Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.