The inflatable start finish arch commissioned by Macquarie Lakes Running Festival is one of our ones that we’re most proud of.
Established in 1984 as a half-marathon exclusively, the iconic Lake Macquarie Running Festival has now evolved to include three options of course length: a 4 km kids scamper, a 10.5 km fun run, and the original half marathon.
There is plenty of fun for everyone in the family—plus the activities are not strictly limited to running or walking, either. Jumping castles, face painting stations, and free entertainment are all part of the day. Since the course itself begins at Warners Bay and runs along the Esplanade, participants can enjoy the full panoramic scenery of Lake Macquarie.
We were immediately bursting with excitement when contacted by the client, impatient to bring our ideas for the inflatable start finish arch into reality. It was our largest arch yet, which made the project all the more exciting to undertake!
The Groundwork
Macquarie Lakes Running Festival required an inflatable start finish arch to be placed at the beginning (and ending) point of their course.
The fact that the festival had a peak participation of 2800 runners came into design consideration. It meant the arch needed to be wide enough for many people to go through at the same time.
When we said this arch is one of our biggest pride, we meant it both figuratively and literally as the inflatable start finish arch has an internal width of 9 m and internal height of 5 m.
As the running festival is an annual event, the client wanted to be flexible with their branding. The inflatable start finish arch incorporated replaceable banners which can easily be altered from year to year, adjusting with the list of sponsors.
2D and 3D Designs
Once the client’s vision was relayed to us and aligned with what we knew we could deliver, we started on the 2D drawings of the inflatable start finish arch. The 2D designs included the dimensions of the arch and the specifications of the banner and panel designs.
At the top of the archway, a permanent main sponsor logo was hand-painted onto the unprinted PVC material using a stencil. This type of decoration has excellent durability and colourfastness.
To allow for yearly updates and in compliance with the client’s request, the banners on the legs of the arch for sponsorship and events are made from fabric and had a Velcro backing.
We used the Pantone Matching system colour match to get the right shade of the distinctive green of the Macquarie Lakes Running Festival’s logo. It was crucial to get this right as our client’s satisfaction is of the utmost importance.
After receiving the green light for the 2D designs, we rendered a 3D drawing for review, which the client approved swiftly. And here was where the magic began.
Bringing the Artwork to Life
Our production team was thrilled to begin manufacturing the one-of-a-kind inflatable start finish arch.
Print samples were created to ensure the colours were flawless matches, then the process moved on to printing, cutting, and sewing together the materials.
The client took us up on our recommendation of using unprinted PVC as the base, which means that in the long term the arch will have more durability as there is no printing or colour to “scratch off”.
Before we delivered the product to the client in New South Wales, Australia, we carried out regular quality control procedures, one of which is a trial set-up for size-testing in order to check the dimensions of the finished product and general appearance. This start finish arch passed with flying colours.
A Memorable Day in Lake Macquarie
On the day of the Lake Macquarie Running Festival, runners in colourful sleeveless shirts awaited with excitement in front of the starting line, the unique inflatable start finish arch towered above their heads.
They took off running as soon as the signal was given, determined to return to the arch having set a new personal best.
Since we understood the amount of work put into organizing a large-scale event, we aimed to make the set process of the inflatable start finish arch as hassle-free as possible.
In ten minutes and with some ropes in hand, the inflatable arch was already a sight to behold. Even better, packing up the arch was just as an effortless process as erecting it. The client was over the moon with the results; the arch successfully ticked off all the boxes in their list and did so perfectly.
Get In Touch With Us
Our range of custom inflatable arches brings you to a world where the possibilities are endless and there is no limit to your imagination.
Our years of experience allows us to cater to individual client’s unique needs and give life to their creative ideas. Start the process of making your dream come true by contacting us today. We are more than happy to provide a quotation or answer any questions you might have!
