A Guide to the Planning, Organization, the city’s waterfront, with a range of community fees for television over those charged facilities including a new aquarium, multimodal at prior Olympic events, making Design & Operation of World Expositions transit station, convention center, 9,000-seat it evident that previous organizers performance hall, and new housing. and the IOC had undervalued the assets they controlled. On the cost side, Los Angeles built Hanover, ’s served as a vehicle only one new sports venue – a swimming pool Chapter Six: Endings and Beginnings to expand the city’s trade fair, one of the largest paid for by MacDonald’s – and staged the Games Going Out of Business Successfully in . in existing facilities, thereby saving millions of dollars in costs when compared to previous How and how much a city benefits from hosting organizations. Of course, the region had many and Building the Expo Legacy an expo is primarily a matter of good planning. existing facilities to draw upon, but the organizers But the above examples demonstrate that expos fully realized the potential of these assets, and - unlike major one-time sports events which have leveraged them. For the IOC, the use of existing This world exposition business guide is intended substantial municipal and regional benefits that, in specific building and facilities requirements - are facilities has become something of a mantra for to assist those who are involved in, or considering the case of a well-planned event, accompany the more flexible and can leave behind a host of dealing with rising costs and addressing critics becoming involved in, a modern world’s fair or privilege of hosting. residual developments including parks, meeting who are increasingly calling on event organizers international expo – whether as host, organizer, and performance halls, theme structures, to develop sustainable projects. promoter, participant, sponsor, concessionaire, Consider: ran June 14-Sept museums, housing… practically anything that a designer or contractor. THE EXPO BOOK provides 14. When it closed its doors, it began the process community needs. of converting its pavilions into a 160,000-square- Based on the experience of several feasibility useful information, guidelines, illustrations, facts studies conducted by the authors, the use of meter . Whereas in , Expo The US hasn’t just passively left off hosting expos. and figures and relevant examples, gained through existing buildings could significantly reduce an 2010 (set to run May 1 – Oct 31 of that year) is the The US is in fact no longer a member of the Bureau the authors’ decades of experience advising the expo’s costs when compared with building new instrument of regenerating a run-down industrial of International Expositions. The Paris-based organizers of world expositions, Olympic Games structures. Several options studied in the San waterfront site as a component of the Huangpu BIE is a quasi-governmental treaty organization and other mega-events. Portions of it have been Francisco Bay Area included: former military Riverside Regeneration Program. “The expo will formed in the late1920s to regulate the hosting of printed in IPM Magazine in six installments that installations (warehouses, aircraft hangars, etc.), not only give the area a complete facelift, but international expositions. The US was an active, began in Nov 2007. All six chapters are published waterfront piers, and convention centers. Other also turn it into a pilot for new urban living, a firm supportive BIE member state for many years. But online at TheExpoBook.com. potential sites could be large state and county testament to the very theme of : ‘Better the US government now has legislation in place fairgrounds. All of these buildings could serve, As Nations Around the World Pursue City, Better Life,’” say organizers. that prevents the country from spending a dime of with a little imagination and some temporary federal funds on participation in expos abroad – and the Expo Dream, US Should Get Back improvements, as exhibition halls for an expo. Following 1958, when Brussels, was the so the US participation record has deteriorated. The in the Game first to host a world expo after World War II, half a US was not among the community of international A Solid Post-Expo Plan is Essential The following segment first appeared as an dozen expos took place in the within exhibitors at Hanover Expo 2000, which marked article by Gordon Linden and Paul Creighton in a 22-year period. These were: Seattle’s Century the creation of the . (The US was In the case of Shanghai, which is building from the 2008 TEA Annual & Directory, published by 21 Exposition (’62), the New York World’s Fair of present at Aichi , in an attractive, well- scratch, the redeveloped site is close to Shanghai’s the Themed Entertainment Association. The Expo 1964-1965, HemisFair in San Antonio, Texas (’68), attended pavilion….funded by Toyota one of the downtown and its transportation lines. The Book and IPM are indebted to TEA for granting Expo 74 in Spokane, Washington, the International best-selling auto brands in the US.) shipyards and steel plants being displaced will reprint permission. Energy Exposition in Knoxville, Tennessee (’82) be relocated. “This fits perfectly into the city’s and finally the Louisiana World Exposition of Cost is a factor in all of this. Some criticize the industrial restructuring strategy,” say organizers. The last World Expo in the US was New Orleans 1984 (the same year as the Los Angeles Summer “here today – gone tomorrow” character of 1984. Since that time, world expos have been held Olympics). many past international expositions wherein In contrast to the decline of interest and support in (’85), Canada (’86), (’88), big, expensive structures were built only to be on the part of the US government in participating Building International Goodwill and (’92), Korea (’93), (’98), Germany (2000) demolished later with little or nothing permanent in expos abroad and promoting home-grown Boosting Trade Japan (’05), and Spain again (’08). Following that, to show for all the trouble. expos, there is no lack of interest and participation hosts Shanghai Expo 2010, Korea hosts While New Orleans 84 was neither a model of on the part of other countries and international Legacy is about what you leave behind Yeosu and hosts . But organization nor of content, it nevertheless was entities, which have been signing up to participate in the US, the hosting of expos has come to an in record numbers. They recognize the benefits of a useful redevelopment vehicle, leaving a series The cost question can be examined by looking abrupt end, in spite of a long history that includes doing so in terms of building international goodwill of improvements to downtown New Orleans at the Olympic Games. Los Angeles 1984 many outstanding events. and boosting trade. supporting the city’s tourist and convention demonstrated that hosting the Games could be business. Other US cities have enjoyed post- In the meantime, other nations around the globe managed in a financially positive way. Organizers Given current political circumstances and priorities, expo benefits. continue to pursue the expo dream, along with the achieved a surplus by doing two things: raising the near term opportunities for the US to promote revenues and lowering expenses. They were able , Portugal, in hosting Expo ’98, replaced a world expo look slim. But, as with the case of the to significantly increase the broadcast rights an aging refinery located on prime real estate on ’84 Olympics wherein Los Angeles was the only Authors Gordon Linden & Paul Creighton Special Contributor Editor Judith Rubin Graphic Designer Urso Chappell among thoseconsideringabidfor2017. cities Canadian (Edmonton, Hamilton, Montreal and four Ottawa) 2015 are and Milan, Expo in 2012. held be Expo will hosting of honor the for Yeosu with competed Wroclaw, and adopters enthusiastic ,of cities The world. the around find that surprised to not continue are expos we successes past of evidence of abundance the with meantime, the In benefits. the city realize will it the accomplishes that and – happen could expo It the here. tradition to rebirth give could - Olympics the with done was as vision, new a and time new a account takesinto that approach creative,fresh change. Some real re-thinking forge of to the means concept viable - a a truly be could Expo an after decades of decline through suburban vitality expansion, their reclaim to seek centers city to address environmental needs problems of the past and through created being opportunities redevelopment urban numerous with home, At vehicle. logical a seem would participation expo crossroads, a at abroad image its reposition to comes change need America’s With knocks. opportunity sometimes when out, dropped had viable bidder for the Summer Games after Tehran Expo 2008’s Valencia Pavilion Interactive flooring at

Watch inanExpoPavilion Eleven KeyPressurePointsto eprmn ad otaitr technical contradictory budget over-runs are inevitable. artistic that and imagine people some wonder of No information. may cacophony expositions bewildering temperament a world like at seem pavilions and creates produces that industry the newcomer, the To become oneofthem? sure make to Want stories lately? Hear anybudgethorror , The Burbank, United Kingdom Arts, Imagination BRC of staff professional the and Rogers Bob By within budget while producing an expopavilion. Imagination BRC of presidentArts. Rogers, Rogers from Bob contributorgives segment special following essential The authors: tips the on staying from Note How NOT toGoOverBudget:

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Photo by Urso Chappell not aninventor. creative your of making out of trap the into everything state of sucked the art. get Let the and uniqueness Don’t come tried true. individually each are that using components by result unique a create to Try Solution: combining proven parts. by effects unique your Create risk: your minimize can in that strategy a is exercise there but management an risk always is entertainment Themed art invoices.” state-of-the- by closely followed problems, the-art state-of- comes technology state-of-the-art “With and thatmeansrisk. before, newExpo gone has one no where go leading must pavilions world’s the definition, by But new yet triedandtrue? Wouldn’t we all love to have it both ways? Completely for atleastfiveyears.” profitable and open been has concept this examples where six least at me show And world. the in seen Here iswhattheywatch for: their keep pavilion budgetsontarget. they Points, Pressure these watching closely By projects. entertainment themed in runs Pressure Points that generate 95% of the cost over- budget key 11 the on focus They picture. different a see professionals seasoned The not. they’re But installation andoperation. lose often production, construction, of design reality the with they touch what deliver or medicine. produce practice actually Designers who only design and doesn’t never have to build, but degree university right the has who Doctor a using like is produce doesn’t who Planner or Designer a Using Avoid DesignersWhoDon’tProduce Pressure Point#2: you? to this never saidunique, new, something ever anyone Has Kind/State-of-the-Art Pressure Point#1:AvoidOne-Of-A- before and never imagined before anywhere before imagined never and before - BobDeVille,formerVPofEngineering . Be an integrator,an Be combination. at Walt DisneyImagineering done before, never before, Gv me “Give

what theydraw. produces who Planner/Designer a Find Solution: experience bitter from exactly whatthingsreallycost. know they And build. to the results. facing feasible and easy is it so design to how know They and field the to designs their taking constantly are produce also who Designers deliver forthatpriceorrisklosinghishouse.” to promises who producer the from is to listening worth estimate only The cost. will it says Designer the what care don’t “I clients: pavilion expo BRC’s of project one Motors, Krug, General for John executive of words the In The more detail and accuracy in in accuracy and detail more The Solution: bad of at changeorderrates. series a surprises, all becomes of them fixed at the owner’s expense, process and construction installation the that is next happens What forlast term minute invention duringinstallation). (an industry directing” art they “field money by save Often to going were designs. they thought actually inadequate the or of some incomplete even sounds, with construction start owners park theme this leading as obvious As team Design BeforeYouBuild a build Pressure Point#4: participation their around them). proven with a hire and or stone corner the before as Designer/Producer Show successfully teamed Show (a team havewho Architect an and Designer/Producer established an Hire idea: Best Be very carefulhowyou combinethem. Some creative people get along great. Others don’t. murder a mystery. in Itiscertainlyasure fire recipe for disaster. sentence opening the be could This to “have fun”. put greatest rivals, twelve arch them them the all in of the same small kitchen many and told hired them Europe, he of chefs so party any at “He wanted it to be the greatest meal ever served Better thanOne Two MasterChefsareNOT Pressure Point#3: your design, the smoother and easier your (not they!) will pay for any gaps or overlaps that Communication is everything, especially on a one- Solution: Keep everyone informed. installation will be. This will save you a fortune they overlook or which develop later. of-a-kind project. A large number of cost overruns Copy everyone on all drawings. in change orders. come from failure to completely share information. Communication is cheap. The extra cost of an overlap is obvious – you pay Communication failures cause you and your Pressure Point #5: for the same thing twice. But it is the gaps that people to make decisions without understanding Pressure Point #8: Choose the Right Project Manager generate the worst surprises. Example: Suppose the consequences. Respect the Ride System the Building Contractor’s price includes bringing Would you hire a conventional construction project power to the building but does not include routing For example, an owner meets with only his building We once saw a small paper model that said it all. manager with no show business experience to the power to where it is needed. Meanwhile, contractor to value-engineer the building and The ride track was fabricated from a metal strip manage the creation of a Broadway show? Would imagine the Show Producer is providing all of the they decide to delete “excess” electrical panels, that looked just a little bit like spiral razor wire. The you ask that conventional building construction technical equipment for the theater but presumes wiring, conduit, etc. They thought they had saved building around it was done in ordinary white printer manager to take responsibility for a film that “others” will bring the power to the places it money. Months later, during installation, the paper. The symbolism was perfect. It said, “Change production? Some expo pavilions do the equivalent is needed. This is a gap. As the owner, you will pay Show Producer discovers the deletion and reports and manipulate the building all you want but if you of this when they put a traditional construction dearly for it. that the show equipment won’t work without the touch the ride system you will bleed.” project manager in charge of the overall project electricity called for in the original specifications. It is always cheaper to find and fill gaps before the management of their pavilion. A great construction Oops! Now, late in the project, some or all of the A client new to this industry may assume that the contracts are awarded. Gaps discovered later in the project manager is indispensible for managing your deleted items must be put back at costly change ride should flex to suit the needs of the building, but process will have to be fixed under costlier change building construction. But when you put them in order rates. Even if they only put back about the truth is the reverse. Here are four things you order conditions. charge of the show/exhibit producer, they tend to half of what was taken out, the unhappy result can do to help make ride system costs predictable. give higher priority to solving the problems they is often that it costs more than they originally Remember that you are responsible for the gaps Be as innovative as you like with the sets and understand, so the needs of the building tend to thought they were saving. between contractors who contract directly to you. environments that your ride passes through but come first while the needs of the show/exhibit are Usually you are not responsible for coordinating As improbable as this sounds, it happens all don’t do anything innovative with the ride system often misunderstood or undervalued. between a prime contractor’s subcontractors. the time. unless you have a big budget contingency... and lots Therefore, one strategy is to divide the work Solution: Do one of the following: of liability insurance. among fewer prime contractors who report to In another classic example, one of our clients Find a show/exhibit producer who can also you. This is an area where an experienced Show “saved money” by eliminating all of the Start with a manufacturer-recommended standard provide the owner’s representative or project Producer can save you money and time by acoustical panels from their theater. Their track layout copied from a previously successful 1 manager function for the overall project. (Notice consolidating all of the show-related elements reason: “It was all dark up there so no one installation and don’t change it for anything. this is the same producer already doing your shows under a single contract responsibility (the Show would ever see them.” (No one would see the Build from the inside out. Start with the track and and exhibits. To bring in another producer risks the Producer’s) and guaranteeing to cover any acoustical panels!) Without the acoustical ride system. Then fit the sets, environments and “two master chiefs” problem.) internal gaps between his or her direct-report panels to absorb and control sound, the sound vendors. This means you can concentrate on track echoed off the walls, making the words of effects in around the ride track. Finally, shape the Create a project management committee which the gaps between fewer major participants. the show very difficult to understand. We were building to suit. you chair. On it with you are two other advisors: not told about it and didn’t discover the deletion Rigorously eliminate dangerous sheer points The construction manager in charge of the facility Danger: It is a mistake to assume your major until installation. For the theater to function, (places where the vehicle passes close by a wall, construction, and the show producer in charge vendors (the ones who report directly to you) will the panels had to be put back at the owner’s set, column or whatever – any narrow clearance that of the exhibits and presentations. You make the address this problem without your involved direction. expense, at change-order rates. could catch, crush, snag, hit or otherwise endanger difficult decisions with balance. The owner is the one at risk. The owner (you) must be the leader in eliminating gaps and overlaps. Every project goes through periods of value a passenger or employee). Pressure Point #6: engineering. Although painful, it is often Get the ride system running first, as early as Mind the Gaps Pressure Point #7: necessary. Any show designer (especially possible in the construction schedule. After the ride Share All the Drawings one who also produces what they design) is working perfectly, then shut it down while you Before awarding contracts, carefully read the scope understands the importance of budgets install show sets and effects around it.2 of work for each contractor who is working directly “Why should I spend the money to bring the and the need for value engineering. Before for you, and eliminate gaps and overlaps. It is even show/exhibit people to all these building design you eliminate things, make sure you really Of course the world’s best attractions (by Disney, fair play to ask your suppliers to talk to each other reviews? I don’t need to send them all the building understand the impact. Make sure everyone Universal, etc.) don’t follow all those rules. On the about this and adjust their scope and price before drawings, either.” is involved. Otherwise, your budget cuts may other hand, Disney’s ride attraction budgets range you sign. But never forget that, as the owner, you cost more than they save. from $30 million to well over $100 million.

1Examples of Show-Related Elements that can be combined as part of the Show Producer’s scope: Concept, Design, sets, 2Example: There were relatively few ride system problems with Paris first opened because Disney got all... well, most... environments, projectors, screens, ride systems, special effects, show control computers, custom software, media elements such of their ride systems up and working a full year prior to opening. as film or videos, interactive elements, displays, cabinetry, robots, etc. Pressure Point #9: This definition of “Dust Free” is counter-intuitive Solution: Communication, encouragement and others, the installation gradually Enforce “Dust Free” to normal builders who haven’t been involved consequences. Throughout the months leading up slips further and further behind in themed entertainment. In the absence of to Dust Free, make sure everyone on the team schedule, eventually causing overtime costs “Dust Free” is the single most crucial date on your any other information, the Building Contractor understands the importance of the date and the and opening delays. Each individual interruption schedule. It is also the least understood. Violations usually assumes that he has until a couple cost consequences of missing it. If there are no may be minor but taken together it’s like getting of the “Dust Free” date cause about 50% of the months after Opening Day to finish details of consequences to contractors who violate the Dust pecked to death by ducks. problems during installation and perhaps 25% of the building construction. That assumption is Free, create some, along with positive incentives all change orders and most premature equipment deeply ingrained in construction culture, and for achieving Dust Free. Don’t expect your Show Any decent construction contractor already failures. hard to displace. As a result, the Dust Free date Producers to police your construction contractors or knows how to sequence and schedule the flow of is frequently not taken seriously by construction to somehow work around them. Violations of Dust normal building trades to minimize conflicts and “Dust Free” is the date that the building and the site people. But if the construction continues after Free are your cost, so enforcing the Dust Free is damage to the work, but most don’t have a clue are supposed to be completely finished, clean and Dust Free, you may suffer cost hits from problems your responsibility. how to integrate the highly specialized work of done – ready for the show technical people to take like these: the attraction “trades.” Your experienced Show over and begin installing the delicate show sets and During the period between Dust Free and Producer will know how. sensitive electronics. All of the construction work is Contamination - Even a small amount of opening insist on regular coordination supposed to be over. Really over. concrete dust or leftover construction dirt can meetings gathering all of the players who Solution: From the beginning, get ahead and stay permanently damage sensitive electronics. may need access to the site, including your ahead. Start earlier than you think you should. Dust Free usually means: At minimum a dusty installation takes longer operations staff and especially public relations Commit to your team and give them a chance to because the show programmer/installer spends and advertising.4 help you set a reasonable schedule and do their Construction and its clean-up are completely a large amount of their time fixing dirt damage best work for you. And… finished. instead of installing. At worst it can destroy Pressure Point #10: 3 Pressure Point #11: Be Decisive The building is closed in and cleaned out. All equipment or void your warranty. Optimize Your Schedule. carpet is down, all flooring, walls and ceilings are Don’t try to keep your options open for too long. Accidental Damage - The average construction An owner whose job was seriously behind schedule finished. No more construction activity. Many clients falsely believe that exhibits and worker is unfamiliar with the kinds of materials once quipped, “There’s nothing to worry about. I’ve attractions are like trade shows. They think they and equipment attraction people bring on a site, got 300 guys on the job, all destroying each other’s All of the painting is finished. can delay decisions and continue making changes so they often cause unintended damage. If you are work!” The air conditioning is working, balanced and particularly unlucky the item damaged could be a right up until opening. six-month or more long-lead item. For any given project there is an optimal schedule “blown out” (dust free). The best expo pavilions require long lead times and which minimizes cost and conflicts. It is well known early commitments. The phones and data lines are in and working. Costly Schedule Extensions – Some examples: to anyone who builds things, that both compressed and prolonged schedules cost more money and All fire sprinkler pressure tests and audible fire Installing and programming the show lighting When the client wants to continue creative cause more grief to all concerned. Ignore this danger brainstorming and constant redesigning all the alarm tests are complete. requires darkness so you can see the effects of at your own peril. the lights you are directing. Other workers opening way up until opening day, they must expect massive change orders for changes in facility Absolutely no additional dust generating doors from lighted areas or turning on work lights A world exposition will not delay its opening infrastructure, re-design, re-stocking charges construction work or painting will be done anywhere make it impossible. date to wait for you! If you get behind and then on equipment that must be returned, media re- in the building. try to catch up by throwing more people at shoots and exploding costs. Installing and programming sound systems the work, this just leads to overcrowding and All of the major electrical systems are in, finished requires quiet so that engineers and creative more confusion, downtime and coordination and stable. The power will not be fluctuating or Solution: directors can hear what they are doing. Imagine problems. Some functions can’t be doubled being turned on/off. trying to program sound while nearby someone is up. (Nine women can’t make a baby in one Make timely decisions and stick with the plan testing fire alarms, grinding concrete or using a All construction punch list items are completed month!) When you try to superimpose two you’ve approved. table saw. and done. kinds of work that are incompatible you get cost Give your Producer a consistent target to hit. Before show control computers are installed, overruns from damage and the loss of efficiency And a lot more. Check with your producer. for all concerned. For example, it is impossible make sure that all major electrical work is complete. Attend reviews and give feedback. to install sets and exhibits in a room while And all of the above will stay that way. This isn’t one Power surges or outages caused by work in other parts of the building can damage the electronics or simultaneously installing carpet. If one trade’s Process change orders and keep your promises. clean day and then everybody goes back to work. At work is continually interrupted by the work of Dust Free, the above things are done. erase programming memory.

3On one job, our installation crew came back from lunch to discover a bad surprise. A construction paint crew had moved in and 4Still photo shoots, TV commercial production and endless V.I.P. construction tours are notorious sources of surprise installation was sanding a concrete wall in our technical room. The building contractor hadn’t bothered to consult us about this since it was cost overruns. “his wall.” As a result, lye dust from the concrete was everywhere, throughout the sensititve electronics. A few months later, the highly caucstic lye dust had done its work and the electronics started developing mysterious failures. Dust Free means done. In Summary: On the other hand, in some communities an Expo doing the math - such as the cost of the The Expo Conundrum: can be a vehicle to create jobs, and therefore the human resources needed to maintain 1. Avoid State of the Art: be an integrator, How to Go Out of Business pendulum on outsourcing might swing the other the equipment, the value of replacement parts, not an inventor. way. But even in such cases, outsourcing remains insurance, etc., etc. Successfully a viable means of obtaining needed assistance. 2. Be wary of Designers who don’t Produce. It won’t be realistic to get some needed skills to Given the relatively short period of time that the We’ve repeated the phrase “go out of business sign on to an organization which will only last a few Expo will operate, it is almost always cheaper to 3. One Master Chef: Build your team around successfully” often throughout this book – and we’re years. rent or lease than to buy, although if the item being one strong design lead, preferably your attraction about to repeat it several more times - because it is considered is part of the legacy plan wherein the producer. an essential part of the process, and it calls for ways Curtail the tendency to build empires long-term use can be identified and ensured, then of thinking and doing that are not part of running a 4. Design before you Build. The time and the equation is easily reversed to the more standard conventional operation. When a person is appointed the head or supervisor money you spend on design will be saved many outcome. On the matter of legacy planning, wishful of a department or group in a business, their initial thinking is not enough, and sometimes vague or times over when you build. Accustomed as we all are to the notion that a instinct is to look at their role and their responsibilities preliminary plans are kept in place in the haste of successful business is one that, with hard work and 5. Choose the Right Project Manager – Don’t and take actions to “make things better.” Sometimes putting together an Expo and capital expenditures a strong management hand, endures a long time, put a building construction expert in charge of the emergence of these tendencies can be tempered are unwisely placed in the “legacy column” of the the idea of going out of business successfully sounds the show. by providing the newly appointed employee with a balance sheet, when a rented item would have been almost like a non-sequitur. But the conventional thorough description of his or her job along with a the prudent choice. 6. Mind the Gaps – Close all scope Gaps & ways of thinking about business can create real budget and staffing plan, etc. But it’s not unusual Overlaps problems for a one-time event. Many things that for a motivated employee, in the spirit of showing Substitute people for equipment are second nature to running a traditional business their competence and desire to optimize their where possible 7. Share All Drawings with all participants, all are at odds with the interests of an Expo. An Expo contribution to the company, to ignore or attempt the time. Understand the consequences before organizer must be alert to these problems so that to modify the pre-existing plans in order to meet Unlike a regular business, wherein it would be you value engineer. when the dust settles after closing day, the eventual their own standards and experience. In the context reasonable to justify the costs of labor-saving outcome is successful rather than painful. of an Expo, wherein a newly-appointed department equipment or technology compared with the costs 8. Respect the Ride System – Make it the head or supervisor arrives without the benefit of of staffing, at an Expo it is often the counterintuitive boss of everything else. In order to understand the principle of going out of business successfully and appreciate how experience with a prior one-time event, there will conclusion which makes the most sense: to use 9. Enforce a firm “Dust Free” date, so your strategic decisions in all phases of organizing and be a need on the part of the Expo management to people to perform certain functions rather than building contractor will finish early enough to operating an Expo can affect the final outcome, productively direct these instincts which experienced making a capital purchase. For example, for some allow your attraction producer to do his job. we provide herewith some guidance on successful people have gained in conventional businesses and years now Expos have utilized very sophisticated Expo organization practices that illustrate some key ensure that every organizational unit is operating turnstile systems. These turnstiles, which have 10. Optimize Your Schedule to minimize cost differences between a one-time event and a typical in a resource-constrained environment. In addition, scanning capabilities, offer the ability to verify the and maximize quality. Start early and finish business. the management team will need to instill the vision validity of the ticket, identify the type of ticket being early. of going out of business successfully from the top used (i.e. one day, season pass, etc.), and count Outsource functions down, to ensure that everyone gets the message the number of uses of the ticket by the holder. 11. Be Decisive. Once the design phase that when the Expo is over, it’s over. Although the systems are now commonplace in is done, stick to the plan so the work can get Rather than build up a large organization to cover all many performance venues and many people around done. of the functional requirements needed to put on an Rent or lease rather than buy the world have utilized them, their utilization at Expos appears to be both costly and not entirely Watching these 11 Pressure Points won’t prevent Expo, organizers should consider opportunities for When faced with a decision as to buying equipment satisfactory from an operational point of view. all budget overruns, but they are a good start outsourcing. Certain functions, such as management and operations, are inevitably in-house territory or furniture - or even buildings and facilities - most toward preventing the majority. The recurring managers will be inclined to assume that the capital In most recent Expos, staff has been assigned to themes here are teamwork, communication, and can’t realistically be handled by an outside firm or individual. But rather than building a large, cost will be amortized over a certain number of each and every turnstile to ensure that visitors owner leadership... and hiring a professional years. They will also find, when deciding whether and even accredited staff are able to use the expo pavilion attractions producer! in-house organization which will require a whole range of facilities, services and the care and feeding to purchase or to rent, that in many cases the costs machines correctly. By staffing each turnstile with which go along with permanent businesses, where of renting and leasing appear higher. In the case a uniformed employee, any economies which might the expertise exists in the community there’s an of an Expo, however, the economies of purchasing accrue to an automated versus manual system opportunity to access skills and avoid the difficult versus renting need to have maintenance, repair have immediately evaporated. In observing visitors Bob Rogers is the Chairman of BRC and costly process of recruiting, hiring and retaining and replacement considerations factored in. As the entering Expo gates on different continents, it is Imagination Arts. For more information, see staff who, at the end of the day, will need to find owner of a piece of equipment, or multiple pieces apparent that many people are unfamiliar with the “About the Contributors.” another job when the Expo is over. of the same equipment, there are numerous hidden technology to begin with and then in a situation costs which are easy to leave off the sheet when which is somewhat stressful (i.e. trying to quickly move through the turnstiles) errors are made and intrinsic to a one-time event: it simply can’t, on a Plan for personnel transition the flow of visitors interrupted by the occasional short-term scale, duplicate the business model of a About the Contributors intervention of a staff member to aid the visitor who permanent development. Organizing, training, and motivating a team to host Gordon Linden AIA, AICP is Manager of Planning and Urban is having a problem. Problems entering the turnstiles a three- to six-month event is a real challenge. If Design with Parsons International, based in Dubai, UAE where can include: inserting the tickets incorrectly, tickets The only way that it will work - assuming that the that weren’t enough, just as soon at things are he has responsibility for directing the planning of a variety which have been folded or otherwise bent aren’t intention is not to totally redevelop the site after operating smoothly, then it’s all over and people of mega-projects in the . During his career, he easily introduced to the scanner, tickets which the Expo, but rather utilize the Expo investments will no longer have a job. The reality of a one- has worked on numerous one-time events, including Olympic for years beyond the actual exhibition period - is Games and International Expositions; recently he was part of a have become wet in the rain and may not easily be time event is inescapable and although a few team assisting Toronto, Canada in assessing the potentials for accepted in the turnstile, etc. Thus, it is evident that for many of the major costs for things such as land, employees may be required for several months hosting an Expo in 2015. Visit www.GordonLinden.com. buildings and equipment, to be allocated to the a relatively simple, yet absolutely essential function after the event concludes to manage the closeout Paul Creighton is President of Creighton Management, Inc. in for an Expo would be better served by forgoing the legacy package for the site and amortized beyond of the paperwork and transition of the site and Olympia, Washington, a private firm specializing in recreational expensive, automatic turnstile in favor of a ticket the exhibition period. facilities, the vast majority of the staff will be out park development and world’s fair development and management. Mr. Creighton has held management positions taker with a hand-held scanner. of a job. Expo organizers need to acknowledge this If the long-term plan for the site is to radically at numerous North American Expos and acted as an advisor to reality and put in place measures to retain staff several Expo organizations in Europe, and North America. depart from the template of the Expo in terms of Allocate land, permanent facility who will see, as the event draws to a close, that infrastructure, buildings and equipment, then an Bob Rogers is the Chairman of BRC Imagination Arts-planners, their jobs will soon be eliminated. These measures creators and producers of presentations for world expositions, and equipment costs to legacy all-out effort should be made to minimize any costs can include providing a centralized outplacement museums, corporate image centers and theme parks around investments that cannot be fully amortized over the exhibition the globe. BRC’s trademarked Scholarship and Showmanship operation where employees can obtain assistance period. In cases where the Expo and all of the approach has been responsible for ten highly successful world in preparing resumes, obtaining information on Some Expo organizers have failed to understand the infrastructure, buildings and services have a good expo pavilions and consulting on a half dozen others. future job potentials, organizing seminars on job very basic idea that one cannot build a theme park- match with the long-term plan, then even if the Since it was founded in 1981, BRC has been honored with over searches, etc. To ignore the reality may fuel, among style project that accommodates several hundred Expo loses money on an operating basis, the long- 250 international awards for creative excellence, including employees, premature defections and other human two Academy Award Nominations and twelve THEA Awards for thousand visitors on a daily basis, operate it for term project will have benefited substantially from three to six months and expect to have a successful resource problems. Outstanding Achievement in themed entertainment, including the Expo investment. the 2007 Thea Award for Lifetime Achievement. Visit BRC financial outcome. The problem is, once again, Imagination Arts at www.BRCweb.com. Expo Book editor Judith Rubin is a prominent editorial voice in the attractions industry and contributing editor to IPM Magazine. She was associate editor/associate publisher of World’s Fair magazine from 1987 to 1995. Visit www.JudithRubin.Blogspot.com. Urso Chappell is a San Francisco-based graphic designer and branding specialist. As a lifelong student of world’s fair history, he founded ExpoMuseum.com in 1998. He was the winner of Expo 2005’s international contest to design the Linimo train exterior and has visited seven world’s fairs. Visit www.UrsoChappell.com.

A Guide to the Planning, Organization, Design & Operation of World Expositions

Published online in six installments at www.TheExpoBook.com and print excerpts in IPM Magazine. by Gordon Linden and Paul Creighton

Chapter One: World Expositions Today

Chapter Two: Putting It Together: Feasibility, Legacy Planning & BIE Approval

Chapter Three: Getting to Opening Day: Operations & Organization

Chapter Four: Design: The Guest Experience

Chapter Five: Design: Exhibits & Buildings

Chapter Six: Going out of Business Successfully and Building the Expo Legacy

Special contributor to Chapters Four, Five and Six: Bob Rogers of BRC Imagination Arts www.TheExpoBook.com

Osaka’s Expo Memorial Park (site of Expo 70) in 2005