Two-storey control room and floating stage hire for Backbone at the Rotterdam World Port Days

For Backbone we built a floating stage and a two storey control room on the water near the Erasmus Bridge during the World Port Days in Rotterdam. We delivered foldable units and 11 decks, with stairs and railings, plus a control room with glass at the front and office spaces for the navy. On the stage the freerunners of Team NL performed their show.

The challenge

Backbone wanted to build a complete stage with a control room and workspaces on the water. The challenge: everything had to stand stable and safe on a container ship, with a two storey control room that offered a view of the show.

Working on the water near the Erasmus Bridge means limited space and tight logistics. Material had to be hoisted on board with a crane and then quickly assembled into a workable whole.

Besides the stage, separate office spaces for the navy were needed. These had to fit within the same structure, without making the whole thing cluttered or unsafe.

The approach

We chose foldable units as the basis and built a two storey control room with glass at the front on top of them. The glass gave the control room a clear view of the water and of the show, while the lower level provided space for technology and a workspace.

For the stage we laid 11 decks, connected with stairs and secured with railings. That choice made it possible to create a large, continuous floor surface that could handle the load of a freerun show.

The foldable units were deliberately chosen to simplify the logistics: up to 10 fit on one truck and they are quick to assemble. On a cramped quay and a container ship that saves delivery movements and time.

Why a two storey control room

A two storey setup keeps the footprint small while still providing two full levels. On the water, where every square metre counts, that was the logical choice.

The glass at the front was not only an aesthetic addition: the control room had to maintain a continuous view of the show near the Erasmus Bridge. That is why this level was set up as a vantage point.

Working on the water

The biggest limitation was the surface: a container ship and decks on the water instead of solid ground. Everything had to be level, connected and safely accessible before anyone stepped on it.

The lifting work with the crane determined the order of assembly. By delivering the units and decks in the right order, the assembly could proceed in one continuous line.

Railings and stairs ensured safe walking routes across the decks, even in the dark. On a floating stage with an audience along the quay that is a strict requirement.

The result

There stood a complete floating stage with a two storey control room, glass at the front and office spaces for the navy. On the 11 decks the freerunners of Team NL performed their show, with the Erasmus Bridge as a backdrop.

The combination of foldable units and decks made a structure possible that looks ordinary on solid ground but is quite a logistical challenge on the water. The whole thing was ready on time and was used during the World Port Days.

Your own structure at a difficult location?

Would you like a stage, control room or hospitality on the water, on a quay or at another cramped location? Describe your situation to us via the request form on wefoldit.nl, and we will think along with you about a suitable setup without obligation.