Service Graphics, the large format print and display arm of St Ives PLC in the UK, has printed and installed the world’s largest advent calendar at London’s new ‘International’ train station, St Pancras. Produced as part of its ‘Meet me at St Pancras’ campaign, supporting the station’s positioning as a meeting place or ‘destination station’, the 2685sqm of graphics formed a key part of the station’s Christmas celebrations.
The brief was to create an authentic 19th Century Christmas experience for commuters, incorporating the spirit of a Victorian Christmas into the newly refurbished Victorian station. Working with its clients, the experiential branding agency, Greenspace, and international exhibition specialist, Clements & Street Limited, Service Graphics printed a range of seasonal interior graphics to be positioned around the station.
As well as the world’s largest advent calendar, and the temporary arch banner produced to cover the calendar whilst installation was in progress, the project included the printing and installation of a theatrical Santa’s grotto, festive backdrops for carol singers and mulled wine and roast chestnut sellers, picture graphics on windows, doors, glass balustrades and in the champagne bar. To ensure the station’s younger visitors can join in the festive fun, a children’s area has also been created, featuring a 1.5m post box for posting letters to Santa. Service Graphics produced colourful, Christmassy floor graphics to further enhance the seasonal decoration of this area.
Service Graphics used its state of the art NUR Expedia digital inkjet systems to print the calendar and its recently installed Vutek QS to produce the accompanying interior graphics.
Sue Woods, project director, Service Graphics, explains, “the box-structures that create the advent calendar’s windows are made from steel. Service Graphics printed the outer and inner images onto PVC panes, which were then secured in position during the installation process. Prior to each window opening, the outer PVC image is removed and covered over night by a frame incorporating a temporary roller blind cover. The cover is opened each day by a different celebrity to reveal the seasonal images, also used to promote retailers within the station.”
In total, the job took two weeks to produce, with a further 10 days allocated for installation. A specific six-hour, overnight time-slot was adhered to during the ten-day installation process.
“Coordinating the installation of the calendar was quite a challenge. Working with the other companies involved in the process, we had to ensure that the job was carried out with the utmost efficiency to keep to the strict time limit,” comments Sue. “As soon as the six-hour mark approached, all staff and installation equipment had to be removed from the platform to ensure public safety.”
The completed project was unveiled and the first calendar door opened on the 1st December to commence this extraordinary count down to Christmas.
Service Graphics UK
www.servicegraphics.co.uk
