Client
SBX Group
Concept
The Smurf Experience
Location
Dallas Fort-Worth, TX
Products
Event Fabrication
Foam Sculpting
Event Truss
Services
Design & Fabrication
Project Management
Logistics and Shipping
Installation
The Smurf Experience Event Activation for SBX Group
Situation
When SBX Group planned an immersive marketing activation to build excitement for the new Smurfs movie, they faced a major challenge. The original European set could not be shipped to the U.S. due to material restrictions, requiring a full rebuild of the custom Smurfs themed environment with different materials fabricated in the U.S for the event.
With only two months before the opening event at Esports Stadium in Dallas, TX, our team received the project with our work cut out for us to ensure fabrication quality, intricate design details, and tackling an immense scope of work — all under a tight deadline.
Solution
With the above in mind, our scenic division mobilized quickly. We began by building many pieces from scratch, while also executing high-level scenic painting and detailing to bring the whimsical world of the Smurfs to life. To push the project forward, we implemented innovative fabrication techniques and materials, such as Custom Foam3D™ sculpting with hard-coated foam structures, aluminum framing for durable and modular walls, and SEG (Silicone Edge Graphics) printing for large-scale scenic elements. We also provided scalable solutions by renting the client custom-fitted walls engineered for reuse after the activation. Throughout the process, we managed heavy revision cycles, trial-and-error testing, and strict IP compliance, all within a highly condensed timeline.
Impact
Despite the tight turnaround, the SBX team successfully launched the immersive Smurfs Experience marketing event in Arlington, TX, on time and up to the customer’s high standards. The Britten crew brought the project to the finish line and delivered a completely immersive themed environment with only two months of prep. We successfully built large-scale Foam3D™ mushroom houses, custom scenic walls, and detailed printed decals on a massive scale. The development of modular scenic walls and event structures were created and designed in such a way that they could be used for future marketing activations, maximizing ROI for the customer.
“The team at Britten was an exceptional partner on The Smurfs Experience. Their work demonstrated remarkable versatility — from building hundreds of scenic pieces (including 13-foot mushroom houses!) and custom-designing elements like a two-lane kids’ obstacle course, to the graphic design and execution of over 900 linear feet of graphic walls. The project demanded seamless coordination across foam sculpting, wood fabrication, large-format graphics, and custom print — all under extremely tight timelines. Britten handled each challenge with calm precision and practical problem-solving, consistently delivering high-quality results without compromise. A truly dependable and multidimensional collaborator.”
The project showcased our ability to step up to a challenging project, innovate quickly, and execute at scale under tight deadlines, ensuring that the SBX Sports Box Entertainment’s activation lived up to the magic of the Smurfs Experience.