BizBash
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
Topics
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
  • Industry Buzz
  • BizBash Lists
Resources
  • On-Demand
  • White Papers & E-Books
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • Events
  • Awards
  • Subscribe
User Tools
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Get Featured
  • Press Releases
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Subscribe to Magazine
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
  • On-Demand
  • White Papers & E-Books
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • Events
  • Awards
  • Subscribe
  1. Venues & Destinations
  2. United States
  3. Chicago

TV Test Patterns Inspire Decor at Columbia's Media Production Center Gala

Jenny Berg
October 28, 2010

On October 2, Columbia College Chicago hosted a gala to celebrate the opening of its new media production center. Architect Jeanne Gang handled the building's design, and drew her inspiration from the color-bar test patterns that appeared on television sets between programs in the early days of the medium.

Diana Cazares, the college's director of event operations, oversaw the panning process. One of its greatest challenges, she said, was "transforming the media production center, which has a primary function of being a state-of-the-art educational facility, into a workable event space." She and her team tapped Event Creative's Jeffrey Foster to help with the strategy.

To overcome space constrictions for the 400-guest dinner, the planning team rented tents to serve as the catering team's prep area. They also tented a courtyard to serve as a dance floor. Because "storage was an issue," Cazares said, some unusual items became part of the decor, with—for example—road cases serving as cocktail tables.

Foster's decor scheme also nodded to the building's inspiration. Dinner took place on two soundstages, and in lieu of linens, gel lighting colored the tables in the bright hues of the test pattern. (After the event, the gels were cleaned and donated back to the college's lighting department.) Crystal candlesticks held old studio lightbulbs instead of candles, and custom bars had bases with backlit strips of film. "It was one of the best examples of decor relating to a space that I've ever been involved with," said Foster.

E19370standalone
Photo: Josh Sears
Architect Jeanne Gang designed the new media production center, taking inspiration from television color-bar test patterns.
Architect Jeanne Gang designed the new media production center, taking inspiration from television color-bar test patterns.
Photo: Josh Sears
For the reception, Event Creative designed a lounge that incorporated road cases as cocktail tables.
For the reception, Event Creative designed a lounge that incorporated road cases as cocktail tables.
Photo: Josh Sears
Event Creative's clear bars had backlit strips of film at their bases.
Event Creative's clear bars had backlit strips of film at their bases.
Photo: Josh Sears
Dinner took place on two separate soundstages in the new building.
Dinner took place on two separate soundstages in the new building.
Photo: Josh Sears
In lieu of linens, designer Jeffrey Foster covered tables with lighting gel.
In lieu of linens, designer Jeffrey Foster covered tables with lighting gel.
Photo: Josh Sears
Tables got different colors of lighting gel. Each bright hue was inspired by television test patterns.
Tables got different colors of lighting gel. Each bright hue was inspired by television test patterns.
Photo: Josh Sears
Instead of candles, each table got old studio lightbulbs in crystal candlesticks.
Instead of candles, each table got old studio lightbulbs in crystal candlesticks.
Photo: Josh Sears
Latest in Chicago
The Talbott Hotel
Chicago
9 New Venues in Chicago for Summer 2025 Meetings and Events
Vela
Chicago
10 New Venues in Chicago for Spring 2025 Meetings and Events
Salon 61
Chicago
10 New Venues in Chicago for Fall 2024 Meetings and Events
Kindling
Chicago
10 New Venues in Chicago for Summer 2024 Meetings and Events
Related Stories
E19351standalone
Chicago
Heffernan Morgan Ronsley Vice President to Launch New Planning Firm
E19246standalone
Chicago
Event Planner Bryan Jacobson Found Dead
E19146standalone
Chicago
Sawtooth: Vietnamese Restaurant With Private Dining Room, Projection Screen
E19088standalone
Chicago
Planetarium Gala Gets Glowing, "Otherworldly" Treatment
More in Chicago
Chicago
9 New Venues in Chicago for Summer 2025 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in Chicago.
The Talbott Hotel
Chicago
10 New Venues in Chicago for Spring 2025 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in Chicago.
Vela
Chicago
10 New Venues in Chicago for Fall 2024 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in Chicago.
Salon 61
Chicago
10 New Venues in Chicago for Summer 2024 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in Chicago.
Kindling
Chicago
10 New Venues in Chicago for Spring 2024 Meetings and Events
Take an inside look at these trending restaurants, resorts, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in Chicago.
Ramova Theatre
Chicago
10 New Venues in Chicago for Fall 2023 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in Chicago.
TheWit
Most Popular
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Cannes Lions 2025: 90+ Bold Builds and Big Ideas From the French Festival of Creativity
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
50 Cool Event Ideas You May Have Missed From Liquid I.V., Martha Stewart, Foot Locker, and More
Sports
Fanatics Fest 2025: This Mega Celebration of Sports Fandom Returned For a Bigger, Bolder Second Year
Industry Insiders
Inside the Build: How Bellagio Fountain Club Delivers F1® Weekend’s Most Luxurious Hospitality Experience
Brands & Event Pros
Industry Innovators 2025: 10 Brands That Took Experiential Marketing to a Whole New Level
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Gov Ball 2025: 25+ Eye-Catching Brand Activations From the NYC Music Festival
Chicago
10 New Venues in Chicago for Summer 2023 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in Chicago.
The Color Factory
Chicago
10 New Venues in Chicago for Spring 2023 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzz-worthy restaurants, hotels, meetings and event spaces, and more recently opened in Chicago.
Gallery Terrace at The Gwen Hotel
Sponsored
Step Inside Convene at 333 North Green in Chicago
Convene
Take a look at the space designed to reimagine how we meet and work.
Convene 333 North Green Street Chicago
Chicago
10 New Venues in Chicago for Fall 2022 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzz-worthy restaurants, hotels, meetings and event spaces, and more recently opened in Chicago.
The LaSalle Hotel
Sponsored
Why You Should Book Your Next Event at Time Out Market
Time Out Market
Trust the experts to execute your next big bash in NYC, Miami, Boston, or Chicago.
Time Out Market
Chicago
9 New Venues in Chicago for Summer 2022 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzz-worthy restaurants, hotels, meetings and event spaces, and more recently opened in Chicago.
Five Iron Golf
Page 1 of 81
Next Page
BizBash
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  1. Privacy Policy
  2. CCPA: Do Not Sell My Personal Info
  3. Contact Us
  4. Site Map
© 2025 Connect Biz, LLC. All rights reserved.