Tenting

The Home Base Program's Mission: Gratitude gala, which took place on October 5 in Boston, was attended by 600 guests, raising a record $1.7 million. Arnold Worldwide partnered with Tyger Productions to execute the event at the historic Charlestown Navy Yard.

Prior to dinner, 300 V.I.P. guests enjoyed a red-carpet cocktail reception aboard the historic U.S.S. Constitution before joining the rest of the attendees for dinner. Their vantage point allowed them an unobstructed view of what will be Home Base's future headquarters mere yards away.

A neutral yet sophisticated color palette set the tone for the dinner decor, where Tyger Productions focused on using materials that were texturally significant without being abrasive. "Because the content and mission [of Home Base] is of such a serious nature, we didn't want to distract with bright colors," said Ty Kuppig, principal of Tyger Productions.

The long dinner tables that anchored the room were made of reclaimed wood, adding a further element of texture to the dining room. Accented by rows of mercury glass hurricanes and large preserved boxwood spheres that offered pops of color, together they created visual interest without disrupting guests' line of sight.

To balance the scale of the large custom structure tent, Tyger Productions designed and fabricated an installation of undulating translucent panels suspended from the ceiling. "The ceiling treatment softened the space," said Kuppig. "By working with the height of the space, we were able to create an intimate, cocoon-like setting." All chairs featured a "Battleship Grey" color with round tables paired with white cushions and long tables with tonal grey cushions.

Clear, unobstructed views of the bay were afforded at nearly every seat inside the 13,000-square-foot tent, thanks to a dramatic 13-foot wall of glass that dominated one side of the tent, bringing the outdoors in.

As the sun set, a dynamic lighting design illuminated the cloud ceiling treatment over guests, mimicking the sunset outdoors. Situated in front of the 10-foot tall signage boards was a second cocktail area flanked by two large bars.

The lighting evolved through the course of the evening in an ombre palette of warm tones, finally dissolving into a "starry night" look with deep blues punctuated by a sky full of bright white stars. "It kept the event changing throughout the evening, so guests were afforded multiple experiences at the same event," said Kuppig.

Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry hosted its black-tie gala, the Columbian Ball, on Saturday. The museum was originally built for the famous 1893 World’s Fair, and its history played into the decor. In the dinner tent, Heffernan Morgan Ronsley projected vintage photos of the museum onto cyclone-shaped fabric sculptures.