aisles

FloorplanDesign

Floorplandesignimpactsmanyimportantaspectsofexpositionmanagement,and

signcanmeanthedifference

ics,spacesalesandeven

exhibitorrelationsareallenhancedbyacarefullyplannedlayout,whichbalancesthe

needsofshowmanagement,gning

thefloorplan,includingtips,andtoolsonboothassignment,safetyconsiderations,

floorplandesign,softwareandtrafficflow,youneedtoknowthefollowing:l

Trafficdensity

Althoughmostshowmanagersstrivefirstandforemosttomaximizeusablespace,

ldcitetheirshow’sprecidaily

trafficdensityintermsofpeople-per-square-foot,butmosthavea“feel”forwhatthey

wantintermsof“busyness.”Thisperceptionhelpsconveyexcitementandactionin

higherdensities,orarelaxededucational/informationalenvironmentinlower

densities.“Smallershowsmaylookforhigherdensitiestomaketheir2,000attendee

feellike9,000,”rceptioncanbecreatedbynarrowingaisles

from10feettoninefeet,orsimplydesigningfewerislandsandfittingmoreexhibits

inthesamespace.

Exhibitorequality

PromotinganofexhibitorequalityisoftenhighonthelistofFloorplanpriorities,

TheRadiologicalSocietyofNorthAmericaaddressthisissuebyrervingablock

ofin-lineexhibitsnolargerthen10x20atthefrontofthehall.“Wedon’twanttoe

acompanywhichhasbeenwiththeshowformanyyears,buthasnoneedforalarge

booth,pushedouttotheedgeofthefloor,oroverrunbylargerexhibits,”saysRSNA

AssistantExecutiveDirector,MerleHedland.

TheAmericanCollegeofCardiologyfollowsasimilarpolicyofrervingblocksfor

smallerexhibits,andalsopreventssight-linecomplaintsthroughcarefulplacementof

adjacentexhibits,“Wedon’twanta5,000square-footboothpositionedsothatit

obliteratesthesmallerboothsaroundit,”saysNanetteTucker,ACC’sExposition

Manager.

ForSupercom,acommunicationindustryshowproducebyOverton’scompany,

smallerexhibitorscanchootolocateinabankof20010x10sdirectlyinthecenter

ofthefloor.“Wewillsurroundthisareawithlargerexhibitswhichisanadvantagein

generatingtrafficforthesmallerguys,”sayOverton.

Implementingobjectives

ThefirststepinimplementingFloorplanobjectivesistoobtainafacilitydiagram

showingentrances,columns,freightaccess,restrooms,utilityportlocationsandother

rallyincorporatesa“typical”maximumboothcapacity

plan–usuallyin10-footincrements–andrevealsproblemareassuchasaislesthat

mayhavetobewiderthenusualorceilingheightsthatmayrestrictdouble-deck

exhibits,

Localrvicecontractorsusuallyhavevastexperienceinhome-townfacilities.

AccordingtoOverton,hiscontractorshavepointout“dead”areainthehall,andhave

providedhimwithinsightsonsafetyandhallregulationsregardingFloorplan

ctorsoftenhaveideasforgettingmaximumusageoutofahall,and

areexpertatspottingstructuralanomalieslikelowceilings,unconventionalutility

grids,curvedwallsorunusualcolumns.

Aisles

AislesareusuallythefirstfeatureplacedonaFloorplansincetheydeterminethe

llshave“typical”layoutdesignsshowing

primaryaislesrunningeithernorth-southoreast-west.“Whichyoupickis

determinedbyyourestimateofrequiredsquare-footage,thesizeandconfigurationof

yourlargerexhibitsandadeterminationofhowtrafficenteringfromotherhalls

affectsflow,”saysJoyceRosinkski,ManagerofCorporateSalesGroupatFreeman

Decorating,slestypicallyrunthelongerdimensionofthehall,

withcrossaislesrunningtheshorterdirection.“Ialwaystrytoavoidpotentialtraffic

bottlenecksattheendsoflongaislestoletpeopleout,”addsChrisStromme,

FloorplanandExhibitDesigneratBredeExpositions/ExhibitsPlus,Inc.,in

Minneapolis.

consultswithher

drayagecontractortoarriveatthebestaislepatternforefficientfreightmove-inand

move-out.“IgivethemaFloorplanandaskiftheyeanythingthatmightcaua

problem,”shesays.

Youwantastraightlineforfreight,

showsfurtherexpeditefreightmovementbydesignatingveral“no-freight”aisles.

Freefromtheclutterofexhibitmaterials,theaislesaretheneasierforfreight

esayslargerexhibitsspacesshouldnotbesurrounded

bythespecialcrate-freeaisles,since“youwanttobesureyourbiggerexhibitors

havesomeplacetoputtheirfreight.”

Aisle–andbooth–cross

aisles,oraislesthataretoonarrow,d

emergencyexitsorfireextinguishersarealsolikelytobenixed.

Exhibitspace

Thereareasmanywaystostartexhibitspacelayout,

u

example,showswithlargespaceneedsforassociationusageoftenblockoffwhat

theyneedfirst,andbuildtheirFloorplanaroundthoareas.“ThefirstthingsIplace

ontheFloorplanarespecialarealiketherestaurant,publishersrow–allthebigthings

theassociationneeds,”saysTucker.

Afterassociationneedsaremet,thespecialneedsofashow’xhibitorswilloften

owmanagersplanfor

thelargestexhibitspacesfirstbecautheirspecialsizeorconfigurationrequirements

wouldmakethemhardtofitinlater.“SomeRSNAexhibitorsbringlarge

mobile-imagingsuitesthesizeofavanlinetruckandtrailer,”saysMichael

O’Connell,TechnicalExhibitsManagerforRSNA.“Becauoftheirpower

requirements,andexitaccessconcerns,thereareonlycertainareasthatwillwork.”

Tuckeralsokeepsherlargestexhibitspacesawayfromthefreightdoorstoprevent

exhibitmaterialsfromblockingthiscrucialarea.

Thewholeprocessmaysoundrathercomplicatedconsideringobjectives,ruleand

eality,mostFloorplandesignissimplifiedgreatlybyshow

history–particularlyifitremainsinonelocation.“Manyofourexhibitorscome

neasilybuildthatintoour

preliminaryFloorplan,”ingtoO’Connell,“Wewillfactorin

anywherefrom5-to-10percentgrowthinbooththenumberofexhibitsandthesizeof

theshow,andthenlayoutplanstryingtoaccommodatethoneeds.”Totakethe

guessworkoutoftheplanningfortheneedsoflargerexhibitors,Overtoncallsthe20

largestexhibitorsinhisshowtodeterminetheirspacerequirements.

Speciallayouts

Industry“standards”–10-footboothincrements,utilitygridsandprioritypoint

systems–,afewyearsagothe

InternationalFoodTechnologyshowadoptedauniquediamondpatternlayoutthat

Overtonsayncouragedsmallexhibitorstoincreatheirboothsize.“Whenyou

makeadiamondpatternontheFloorplan,youcreatealotof20x20Islandthatoffer

ewfeet,whentheattendeeturnedacorner,theywerefacinga

differentexhibitor,”allyitlimitedthegrowthoftheshowsincea

moreconventionalpatterncansqueezemoreexhibitspaceintothesamehall.“And,

wehadalotoftroublegettingfiremarshallapprovalbecautheythoughtitwasnot

aasytogetoutofthehallwiththezigzagaislepattern.”

Themostcommonspeciallayoutdesigncallsfordividingtheshowinto“ction,”by

ghthereareampleargumentsbothforand

againstplacing“birdsofafeather”together,thedecisionisoftenmadenotbyshow

ionalHomeCentershow

adoptedaproductorientedFloorplanthisyearasatheresultofanattendeemarketing

surveywhichrevealedthatattendeesfeltthatctionthefloorwouldmakeiteasierto

ingsuchaFloorplanwasalengthyprocess

thefirsttimearound.

Eachexhibitorhadtobesurveyedtodetermineinwhichproductcategoryheorshe

belonged.“WeworkedclolywiththeHomeCentershowpeoplefordays,looking

athowmanofeachsizeboothhadtobeineachproductgrouping,”saysFreeman’s

Rosinski.

Opponentsofctioningsayitisprecilybecauofthedifficultyinassigning

exhies

withmultipleproductlinesdon’twanttobeforcedtochoooneoveranother,or

xhibitorsalso

knowthatmanysmallboothswilldilutetheircompany’smessageandimage.“Our

studiesshowthereisadirectcorrelationbetweenexhibitsizeandaudienceimpact,”

saysSkipCox,VicePresidentofExhibitSurveys,Inc.,aleadingindustryrearch

firm.“Whenyoucutyourboothinhalf,youreduceyourexhibit’smemorability.”

ionedearlier,

manyshowsprovideprimespacetosmallexhibitorssotheycancompeteinashow

ten,however,it’sthelargeexhibitspacesthat

upercomshow,

exhibitorsbookingover3,00squarefeetofspacedon’tgettopicktherelocation.

“WeplacethelargestspacesontheperimeteroftheFloorplantoevenlydistribute

trafficflowthroughoutthehall,”saysOverton.

NewWords:

碰撞、冲击、影响

面貌、方面

tion展览会、博览会

安排、设计、版面编排

独一无二的、独特的

e真正的、名副其实的

are恶梦、可怕的事物

ics后勤

e提高、增加、上升

e使平衡、对比、比较（计划）

引用、引证

y密集、密度

运送、传达

tion感觉、知觉

e促进、推广

ty优先权

ogical放射的、辐射的

nt临近的、毗邻的

rate涂抹、擦去

牵索、拉杆

ent工具、器具、贯彻、完成

m图表、简图

t（航运的）运物、运费

orate结合、混合、合并

ent增长、增额

ct约束、限制

t见识、洞察

ies破格、异常、反常

entional不落陈套的、非常规的

y公用事业、实用、功利

格子、格栅

通道、走廊

ion尺寸、尺度、容积、范围

uration构造、结构、形状、外形

inary初步的、预备的

ork猜测、推算

tive革新的、创新的

re暴露、揭发

e榨、挤

“之”字形、弯弯曲曲

充分的、足够的、宽大的

y冗长的、过长的

精明老练的

冲淡、削弱、稀释

Notes:

landesignimpactsmanyimportantaspectsof…

场地设计影响……的许多重要方面。

“impact”在句中为动词，表示“冲击”、“影响”。例：

Hisabnceimpactsourproduction.

他的缺勤影响了我们的产量。

“impact”也可作名词：

ThewarlaunchedbyBushmadeariousimpactonthelifeofIraqipeople.

布什发动的战争给伊拉克人民生活造成严重影响。

inganofexhibitorequalityisoftenhighonthelistofFloorplan

priorities…

提倡一种展览者平等的理念是场地设计中需要优先考虑的重点。

promotinganof意为“提倡一种理念”。Promote意为“提倡”、“推广”、

“促进”，例：

Drinkingacupofwatereverymorningcanpromotehealth.

每天早上喝一杯开水能促进健康。

surroundthisareawithlargerexhibitswhichisanadvantagein

generatingtrafficforguys.

这个地方周围都是较大的展品，对小商小厂有利安排沟通。

ststepinimplementingFloorplanobjectionsistoobtain…

实施场地设计目标的第一步是要取得……

“implement”动词，表示“履行”、“实施”、“执行”。例：

Bothpartieswillimplementtheagreementatonceuponsignature.

协议一签字双方将立即执行。

“obtain”动词，表示“得到”、“买到”、“流行”。例：

Theyobtainedthedatabyillegalmeans.

他们用非法手段获得了这些资料。

The“classicredsongs“stillobtaininsomeareas.

这些红色经典歌曲在有些地区仍很流行。

areusuallythefirstfeatureplaceonaFloorplansincetheydeterminethe

outlinefortherestoftheshow

通道常常是场地设计图上的第一张“面孔”，因为它决定展览馆其他部分的图案。

leprocessmaysoundrathercomplicated…

整个过程听起来很复杂。

“sound”动词，表示“敲响”、“听起来”。例：

Thisaccidentsoundedthealarmforusall.

这次事故给我们大家敲响了警钟。

nlayoutplanstryingtoaccommodatethoneeds

然后，作出计划，努力提供这些需要。

“accommodate”动词，表示“向……提供”“使……适应”。例：

Theauthoritiesconcernedaccommodatedthepoorstudentswithaloan.

有关当局给困难学生提供了贷款。

Answerthefollowingquestions:

pectswillfloorplandesignimpact?

weenhancethelogistics,spacesalesandexhibitorrelations?

oneofmanydesignobjectives?

smallershowscreatetheperceptionofhigherdensities?

uldwepromoteanofexhibitorequality?

thefirststepinimplementingFloorplanobjectives?

nthediagramshow?

aislesusuallythefirstfeatureplacedonafloorplan?

lyoustartyourexhibitspacelayout?

esthemostcommonspeciallayoutdesigncallfor?

Answers:

ctsmanyimportantaspectsofexpositionmanagement.

ullyplannedlayoutcanenhancethem.

mizeusablespaceisoneofmanydesignobjectives.

ncreatetheperceptionbynarrowingaislesfrom10feetto9feetor

simplydesigningfewerislandsandfittingmoreexhibitsinthesamespace.

nedpoliciespromotetorerveblocksforsmallerexhibitsandprevent

sight-linecomplaints.

irststep,weshouldtrytoobtainafacilitydiagram.

howtheentrances,columns,freightaccess,restrooms.

heydeterminetheoutlinefortherestoftheshow.

tourlayoutbyunderstandingtheshowandassociationobjectivesclearly.

sfordividingtheshowinto“ction”.

SpeedReading

Floorplans

Whatyouneedtoknowaboutdesigningyourfloorplan,includingtipsandtoolson

boothassignments,safetyconsiderations,floorplandesignsoftwareandtrafficflow.

Startwiththerightblueprint

Besureyouandyourcontractorareworkingwiththemostcurrentblueprintsfromthe

uction,amajorcivicevent,orcurityconcerns,mayalterthings

eckingwiththe

retheblueprints

are:

•Uptodate,includinganyrecentrenovations.

•Showlocationsofallentrances,exits,restroomsandlowerceilingareas.

•Includeplacementsofallcolumnsandutility/rviceconnections.

Inspectingthesiteandplan

•Ifyoubookafacilityyearsinadvance,besuretoscheduleasitevisitnearerthe

eventsoyou’refamiliarwithanychanges.

•Seethespacewhileemptyandwhileashowisinprogress.

•Inspectthespacewithyourcontractor.

•Ifyourshowdoesn’toccupytheentirefacility,findoutwhatothereventsmaybein

thebuildingatthesametime.

•Ifyourcontractorissubmittingplanstothefiremarshal,besuretogetacopyofthe

conditionalandfinalapproval.

Safetyconsiderations

•Fireordinancesvaryfromvenuetovenue,butcontractorsshouldbefamiliarwith

mforadvice.

•Besureyourinitialfloorplanisworkablewiththefiremarshalbeforemarketing

partmentsrespondwithinaday;

onfacilitycontactsandcontractorstohelpyouspeedthingsupifnecessary.

•Somefiremarshalsapprovefinalplansinadvance;someinspectduringinstallation;

andsomemaynevercomeonsite.

•Usualfireissuesincludeadequateentrancesandexitsfortheexpectedcrowd;

blockingegress,freightdoors,fireextinguishersoralarms;andsufficientaislewidths

lconsiderationorapplicationmaybe

necessaryforcookingdemonstrations,indoorfireworksorotherunusualelements.

•Neverattempttoslipanythingbythefiremarshal’driskclosing

ordelayingyourshow.

Optionsforboothassignments

•Organizebyproduct,suchassimilartechnologiesortypesofwares

Pro::Exhibitorsinsomeindustrieswillnotfit

neatlyintocategories.

•Largestplayers,firstchoice

Pro::Doesn’t

createanincentiveforcompaniesinacond-orthird-placepositiontospendmore

ontheshow.

•Previouxhibitors,firstchoice

Pro::Newexhibitorsinanoldershowhavenohopeofgetting

“firstchoice”positions.

•Firstcome,firstrve

Pro::Thefirsttosignmightnotbetheexcitingbooth

you’dliketoutodrawattendeesintothefloor.

•Thetradeshowasshoppingmall(Thinkofyouranchorexhibitorsandthensmaller

ones,positioningthemtokeepthemixfreshandinterestingwhileaccommodating

trafficflow)

Pro::Exhibitors

caneasilyblamemanagementiftheydon’tliketheirposition.

Designingtheplan

Here’,consultwithyour

contractoraboutwhattheyofferandwhichprogramstheyu.

•ACT/ExpoCAD,/,630-896-2281

•a2zFloorPlan,,410-740-9200

•eshow2000,,800-999-3973

•EBMS-CAD,,800-400-4052

Finalizingtheplan

Finalshowfloorplansshould:

•tesmorecornerpositions.

•Showwhichdoorwayswillactuallybeudantrance/exitways.

•Havealegendsoallabbreviationsareunderstood.

•linganddismantling

mayblockothers’access.

Trafficflowconsiderations

Calculate50percentofthegrossspaceoftheexhibithalltodeterminethenumberof

mple:

80,000SFhall/2=40,000SF

40,000SF/100SF=40010-by-10booths

(Thisfigureaccommodatesaislespace,butnotspecialareas,suchasstagesorfood

berofboothswillhavetobedecreadtomakeroomforthem.)

Tip:rafficusually

movesinthesamedirectionasstreettraffic.

ComprehensionExerci:

htblueprintsinclude

__________aspects.

toscheduleasitevisitnearerthe

eventsoyouarefamiliarwithanychanges.“Schedule”heremeans_____________.

ontractorshouldbefamiliarwith

____________ordinances.

ld________placinglargeboothstooclotofreightdoors.

howfloorplansshouldincludeasmanycrossaislesaspossiblebecauit

____________morecornerpositions.