Grand Opening

The Brief

Craft an impactful event to commemorate the investment of RBC Wealth Management in the city of Minneapolis with the grand opening of their state-of-the-art facilities in the newly constructed Gateway Building. The opening ceremony was to be filled with a celebratory spirit, recognizing past and current executive team members and the community that made it all possible.

Our Work

Design | Content | Build | Production | Logistics

RBC Wealth Management’s seasoned event planners were tasked with the challenge of planning an event with everything in motion. With an unfinished building, undefined protocols and an ever-changing guest list, RBC needed a partner to implement a nimble strategy layered with intentional design to forge a path forward.

The event design included high impact graphics and an elaborate firework display. Just two weeks out from the big day, the building management nixed the graphics and determined fireworks could cause more alarm for neighbors than celebration.

Our creative team decided to pivot and elevate what was existing by leaning into the beauty of the new building with a distinct focus on the RBC brand. As the initial design changed, multiple contingency plans and enticing add-ons filled gaps alleviating the adjustments to the original plan. Contingency planning is a natural part of event design, so none of these obstacles stopped our dedicated team from gracefully evolving the event design.

We leaned into the RBC brand by incorporating their brand colors and logo throughout the space. Elements like the floral arrangements, drapery walls and a massive ice wall elegantly displayed RBC blue and yellow, keeping their brand at the forefront of the activation.

Through constant communication and some troubleshooting along the way, we created a plan that was flexible enough to accommodate many changes and satisfy the needs of the RBC stakeholders.

The Experience

The grand opening was a memorable experience and an appropriate spectacle for the high profile guests in attendance. Attendees delighted in the opportunity to network, take a tour of the beautiful new building and enjoy enticing hors d’ourves + cocktails by acclaimed Chef Gavin Kaysen. In the dynamic ribbon cutting ceremony, RBC executives and Mayor Jacob Frey made impactful remarks on the past, present and future of RBC Wealth Management and their involvement in the city.

Each guest was pleased to gather again with the excitement and camaraderie they had been missing. The event was a powerful reminder of the importance of gathering and a warm welcome to the new addition of the RBC Gateway Building to the Minneapolis skyline.