The Somerset-based suppliers supplied a full range of their products to the event in an impressive order which totalled three stage roofs, 4 PA/Screen Goalposts, 7 PA Masts, 4 Spot Towers, 5 Front-Of-House complexes, around 4000 square metres of decking and the iconic Ribbon Tower in The Park area.
It was a Glastonbury debut for the 22m Supernova roof structure that was the Other Stage, with its smaller sibling, the 16m Supernova, making its first appearance as main stage in The Park.
An 18m Orbit Roof was supplied for the ever-popular Jazz World, plus all decking, PA/Screen goal posts and Lunar delay towers for the main Pyramid stage helped complete the order.
A progression from the Solar Roof provided last year, the Supernova can be built in one crane lift, with all purlins capable of providing rigging points of up to 3 tonnes. The format of the Other Stage was 4 bays with side sheds, complete with 4.8 metres of low level 'backshed' at the rear for rolling risers, etc. The Supernova offered 16m of depth, a trim height of 11m and a massive 6 tonnes of weight loading per arch. The cantilever gave another 3 tonnes of loading, so the whole structure could accommodate up to 33 tonnes of production equipment.
The 15m high PA/Screen goalposts had PA rigged on two 2m cantilevers each side. This provided points for up to 2 tonnes of PA on and offstage on the goalpost, plus a 6 tonne load from the main crossbar, all of which were integral to the design.
Serious also supplied all the stage decking, and the FOH tower to accommodate mixing positions, follow spots and wheelchair access.The Park - the brainchild of Emily Eavis - was an instant hit at last year's festival, featuring live music stages, late night bars and cafes, Tipi villages, art installations, stonemasons and crafts. For its return - Serious built a smaller version of the Other Stage Supernova - a 3-bay/4 arch structure, complete with Satellite masts for the PA towers.
Serious also built another new Glastonbury attraction in The Park - a 20m high observation platform - the "Ribbon Tower". Constructed from Kwikform scaffolding system and Serious' proprietary decking system, handrails and custom designed treads, the tower was clad with ribbons and given a wicker roof by its designer, Misty Buckley.
At its summit, the Eastern-inspired structure was illuminated from within and with a public decking area at 15m it provided a free panoramic view and map of the massive site, day and night throughout the festival.
All structures and decking at the Glastonbury Festival were designed and engineered by the Serious design team led by designer/engineer Dragan Kuzmanov, assisted by head of design and manufacturing Julian Vowles and his staff.
Serious's crew spent over a month installing the many structures. Jeremy Mosdell and Steve McConnell led the teams on site, and all structures were ultimately inspected and signed off for Serious by another of their engineers, Kenneth Falconer.
(Claire Beeson)
