Engineering
NYC
Fashion 2021

After a year away, NYFW (New York Fashion Week) came back in person in 2021, flexing the creativity of an eclectic mix of iconic, young, and upcoming designers.

Helping to give audiences a glimpse into the future of fashion, our entertainment engineering team worked behind the scenes to support the construction of various temporary structures and show elements, secure permitting, and perform load ratings to ensure events ran flawlessly.

Brands + Events

Bulgari

September 9, 2021

Opening night kicked off New York Fashion Week with Bulgari’s launch party at the Standard Hotel’s Le Bain rooftop nightclub spotlighting their B.zero1 collection. The luxury Italian accessory brand designed a centerpiece outdoor terrace backdrop set atop the building’s 19th story. Structurally reviewed by McLaren, it consisted of three lighting towers, each supporting six aura lighting units, heralding the house’s latest mix of shimmering diamonds and daring designs.

NYFW x Fifth

September 9 – 12, 2021

This year, for the first time ever, Fifth Avenue became the centralized home of NYFW runway and presentation space, hosting events like the Supima Design Competition and Nolcha Shows. NYFW x FIFTH transformed 608 Fifth Avenue for four days using state-of-the-art lighting, staging, and sound. Our team analyzed a temporary freestanding ModTruss assembly with legs, bracing, and beams that formed an overhead grid with pipes to support the set up’s lighting and sound.

Coach Runway Show

September 10, 2021

Coach’s Spring 2022 Collection runway show took place at Pier 76 overlooking the Hudson River. The pier, a tow pound previously converted to public open space, was analyzed for structural loads by our marine division to safely support audiences and a purposefully chaotic runway finale that included a dozen skateboarders, followed by a drum corps, and models walking in every direction. It was all broadcast live on a giant LED TV screen adjacent to the walkway. Our entertainment engineers structurally assessed the assembly in addition to providing analysis of the show element truss structures, AV system rigging, and the flanking scaffolding structures that set the stage as fabric covered wall partitions.

MET Costume Institute Benefit

September 13, 2021

Taking place the day after fashion week’s culmination, the 2021 Met Gala Costume Institute Benefit brought together designers, models, and Hollywood stars to celebrate all things American fashion. The theme coincides with the museums two-part upcoming exhibit “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” and “In America: An Anthology of Fashion.” The event ushered attendees through a series of temporary tent structures for which McLaren provided structural review and permitting services. Beginning at the main entry stairs at the 5th Avenue curb, a total of 12 connected frame tents were constructed and ballasted by concrete blocks to create a grand gala entrance space and adjoining intimate passageways.