The Architecture of Engagement: Frost Chicago Brings the “Wow” Factor to Corporate and Private Events

It takes incredible vision to take a show-stopping event from the planning stage to a flawless execution. Frost Chicago, which has home bases in Illinois and Florida, has been an all-encompassing leader in the event production space for three-plus decades. The company has worked behind-the-scenes on some of the most dazzling events on Earth.

A Holistic View of Event Planning

Photo: Courtesy of Creative Consulting

“We take a uniquely holistic view of how various event components—lighting, video, sound, tenting, and more—can truly work together for high-level corporate and social events,” David Kelly, president of Frost Chicago, tells Business Traveler. “It can be easy to opt for a fragmented option with no cohesive plan. But we bring it all together, delivering on what is best for an event and our clients’ needs.” Kelly’s personal history with the industry dates back to the early ’80s, when he worked for a tent company in the New York area. In 1990, he moved to Chicago and opened Frost’s offices there. He has since expanded the company to Florida and manages a team of 130 employees. Its current specialties include staging, audio, video, and fabrication with equipment partners CHAUVET Professional, Martin Professional, Christie, Robe, L’Acoustics, and ROE Visual.

The Architecture of Engagement

Photo: Courtesy of Creative Consulting

Among Frost’s signature strong suits is what the company calls its ‘Architecture of Engagement.’ Kelly describes it as “starting with the design of an event, how the space is used and, of course, a surprise element. Whether it’s an entire curtain or wall dropping, a celebrity appearance or an unexpected factor, we want to make it a full event and keep guests engaged.”

Through the years, Frost Chicago has designed a spectrum of high-end experiences. These have ranged from events for less than 50 people to, most recently, the execution of a large-scale anniversary spectacle for a hedge fund organization with more than 10,000 attendees. The company has worked with world-famous entertainers including Katy Perry, Coldplay, and Maroon 5. It has also managed events across the social and sports worlds, including the Super Bowl.

A One-Stop Shop

Frost Chicago owns more than 175,000 square feet of collective warehouse space for testing and demoing its event concepts and wow-inducing moments. Kelly says the company has more than $12 million in its own equipment, including the latest and greatest automation tools, state-of-the-art lighting and LED walls.

“We really are a one-stop shop for the production of a special event,” Kelly tells Business Traveler. “I’ve been doing this personally for 40 years and that breadth of experience is really hard to replace. The beauty of our company is that we have newer people that have spectacular ideas, too, and we are always pushing the limits with new concepts and designs. We continue to evolve for our clients.”

For more information on Frost Chicago, visit frostchicago.com or call 312-642-7600.