Temporary Walling Panels
In times where social distancing is the new normal it is important for us to support our customers with a solution. We are delighted to announce the arrival of our new walling system, this will help venues create one way systems and facilitate social distancing for visitors to our exhibitions. Light-weight and easy to put up, it is a great addition. Whatever the venue size or shape we can adapt the panels to help. Panels have a mixture of information, LEGO facts and images which add to the tour. As we all continue to adapt to the new normal we are making sure we enhance the tours and support our customers.
Funding
We are very grateful to the Arts Council, whose funding allowed us to invest in this panel system. Creating the whole system of panel and storage was a significant project, which was only possible because of their support. At a time when arts and culture have been so devastated, we are very mindful of the pressures on funding and are thankful that the Arts Council found merit in our proposal.
Arts Council funding also means that we are able to offer these panels to our exhibition customers at no extra cost to hire - reducing the burden on museums and art galleries to host one of our exhibitions.
Design
We’ve taken the opportunity that those metres of additional walling provide to include behind-the-scenes information on some of our design and production processes, that go into our creation of the models in our exhibitions. These panels are not exhibition-specific and so can be mixed-and-matched to give maximum flexibility across all our offerings.
Panel: How do we make our models strong enough for transport?
Panel: How do we design our models?
Materials and function
Initially, the major function of these panels is to help venues manage visitor flow through their spaces in a socially-distanced and reduced-capacity manner. Helping visitors to feel safe when visiting your space.
Each panel snaps together to connect firmly. This gives connection in a full range of motion around the axis, which gives great flexibility in their layout. In addition to the physical separation that the panels allow they provide an extra level of safety by the fabric being finished with HeiQ Viroblock technology. What’s mode, the fabric is washable without compromising the HeiQ Viroblock coating.
“Addressing the global need to reduce virus transmission, HeiQ Viroblock is among the first textile technologies in the world to be proven effective against SARS-COV-2 in the laboratory. HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 has been tested effective 99.99% in 30 minutes against SARS-COV-2, the COVID-19 causing virus. In laboratory studies, treated face masks show significantly improved reduction in virus infectivity compared to untreated control masks. The technology is water-based, safe and compliant, it is EU REACH and US FIFRA compliant and OEKOTEX® certified”
Installation
The panel system installation is based on a simple aluminium frame which clicks together in numbered sequence. It is tool-less which means venue staff or volunteers can help in its installation without the need for specialist tools. This also reduces accidental tool loss whilst on site.
Storage and transport
84 linear metres of walling means we really had to consider the storage and transport of these panels. They weight 540Kg in total! Thankfully each panel comes in a fabric case with a carry handle and a little slip pocket on the outside so you can identify individual panels.
As with all of our exhibition, we wanted to streamline storage and transportation of the panels as much as possible. We decided to go with a scaled-up wine box configuration - which gave us 12 panels with a footprint of half a euro pallet. On top of this we placed a euro-crate to store the 2m-wide fabrics. The whole stack is topped off with a lid that has integral ratchet straps to secure it to the base.
All this means the system can be safely stored and transported in a space- and effort-efficient manner. We can even pallet ship them to customers, if we’re not able to deliver them alongside the exhibition.
Panels packed in their crates for storage and transport.
Example uses
With the easing of lockdown, venues are beginning to re-open and starting to host exhibitions. Our first installation to include the new panel system is at the National Museum of Flight, just outside Edinburgh. Displaying in a hangar comes with its own challenges. In this instance, our temporary panels are a perfect way to frame our exhibits so that they stand out against the backdrop rather than risk being swallowed by the oversize space. Our Brick Wonders exhibition is on display there until the 27th June 2021.
Brick Wonders will then move to Treasure House Museum and Beverley Art Gallery in Yorkshire (3rd July - 3rd October 2021). In contrast to the National Museum of Flight, the Treasure House is a perfect example of the panels being used for creating a route through a smaller venue. This allows us to set out a planned route through the exhibition, creating zones for the exhibition’s four categories - Ancient, Old, Modern and Natural - and engineering ‘reveals’ of certain exhibits as you move through the space.
We’re really looking forward to the re-opening of venues and exhibitions and the flexibility and opportunities that our temporary walling panels give us in this new world. If you’d like more details of how we can do this in your museum, art gallery, shopping centre or anywhere else - please just get in touch!
