At the heart of the Oakland Arena and Coliseum, creativity, engineering, fabrication, and production came together at a scale rarely seen in corporate event design. Project Montana—our corporate clients three-day global gathering for more than 8,000 employees—was designed and produced by Lally Events. 

What began as a vast parking lot was transformed into The Park: a self-contained city built for innovation, collaboration, and connection. With every detail carefully crafted and every space uniquely purposed, this temporary world set a new benchmark for what a corporate event experience can be. 

For this extraordinary project, Hensley Event Resources partnered with Lally Events, Whalefilm, Owl Vision and incredible vendor partners, as the primary provider of tenting, pavilions, and custom-built structures, delivering an intricate network of installations that served as the physical foundation of The Park. What made Project Montana groundbreaking was the unprecedented number of specialized teams working in unison to create one cohesive aesthetic and functional environment.

The Vision Behind Project Montana

Lally Events envisioned more than an event—it was an ecosystem. Partnering with Whalefilm as the lead design and production company, we were all able to, within just six months, reimagine what a corporate gathering could feel like. Boardrooms became plazas. Hallways became pavilions. Traditional conference zones evolved into architectural spaces built to spark connection.

To achieve that vision, they needed not just one expert partner—but an entire network of industry-leading specialists capable of building a functioning city within a city. This required meticulous design leadership, detailed planning, close integration with our AV partner Owl Vision, a roster of exceptional fabricators and a production partner capable of blending engineering, aesthetics, and logistics—and Hensley Event Resources delivered.

Building The Foundations: Scaffolding, Structures & Infrastructure

Hensley’s role in Project Montana was extensive, covering large-scale tenting, metal pavilions, and custom fabrication throughout the property. Working in collaboration with Lally Events and Whalefilm’s creative direction and Owl Vision’s AV and lighting expertise, Hensley provided both the infrastructure and the visual harmony needed to bring The Park to life. 

The physical backbone of The Park began with the massive scaffolding system engineered by Brown United, whose work created the elevated framework on which much of the environment relied. Their scaffolding provided the structural skeleton that allowed Hensley and other vendors to build upward and outward.

Once the framework was in place, Hensley constructed the flooring systems and installed an extensive array of tents, pavilions, clear-span structures, catering equipment, furnishing rentals and custom-built environments. A3 Visual applied fabric treatments and branded elements across the scaffolding, helping visually tie the entire structure together.

This integration created the seamless architectural flow that defined The Park’s layout—a coordinated effort that required constant communication and precision.

The Park Comes To Life: Design, Fabrication & Specialized Environments

To execute this level of detail, a remarkable group of fabricators contributed signature elements:

VX Designs was a core creative force behind the Park’s architectural statement pieces. VX Designs led fabrication on: The iconic entryway, the sculptural “wave” elements placed across pavilions, which are now available in Hensley’ inventory, plus a series of standout brand installations. One of the unsung heroes of the build, 11th Street Workshop delivered custom fabrications across the entire environment—from architectural details to sculptural elements—helping unify the look and feel of the entire site. Other fabricators who partnered alongside the Hensley team include Boovara, Rare Sparrow, Inkling and NVE.

Within this constellation of contributors, Hensley’s structural and engineering expertise remained indispensable. Our work included: Custom metal pavilions, clear-span tenting environments, integrated flooring systems and custom sidewalls and entry structures. Every Hensley build was engineered to work seamlessly. These structures housed meeting areas, lounges, activations, and collaborative zones that shifted organically throughout the multi-day experience.

The result? Perhaps one of the first major corporate events where so many premium fabrication shops collaborated to produce a single, cohesive visual language. Their shared craftsmanship and collective commitment elevated the experience beyond standard event design. Hensley was at the core of the team and an essential part of the success of the build.

Coordination On A Massive Scale &  Collaboration That Set A New Standard

Executing an event of this scale demanded extensive logistical coordination. With over 8,000 attendees, multiple production partners, and limited setup time, precision was non-negotiable. 

Hensley’s operations and installation crews managed the on-site setup of numerous pavilions, tents, flooring systems, and staging components, ensuring everything was completed on schedule. The project required dozens of truckloads of materials, careful sequencing, and continuous collaboration with other vendors on-site. 

Every stage of the installation was guided by clear communication between Hensley’s production team, Whalefilm’s production team and Lally Event’s event directors, ensuring that structural requirements aligned seamlessly with design goals. 

Hundreds of crew members, countless truckloads of materials, and a compressed installation timeline required synchronized coordination across all vendors. Daily alignment between:

• Event Planning & Design: @lallyevents

• Venue, AV, Lighting & Production: @owlvisionllc

• The Park Design & Fabrication Production: @whalefilm 

• Tenting, Rentals & Production Partner: @hensleyeventresources 

• Fabricators: Brown United, VX Design, 11th Street Studio, NVE, A3, Boovara and Blueprint Studios

Each partner contributed a vital layer to the event’s success. For Hensley, this collaboration highlighted the company’s ability to not only provide rental and fabrication services, but to serve as a strategic structural partner in delivering large-scale, high-impact corporate experiences. 

Together, this coalition redefined the potential of temporary built environments. The Park felt permanent, intentional, and architecturally unified—a testament to shared craftsmanship, collective vision, and industry-leading execution.

Innovation Meets Impact

From concept to completion, Project Montana showcased what happens when design innovation meets flawless execution. The site became a living representation of collaboration and creativity—each pavilion and space offering guests a new perspective on what a corporate event could look like. 

The event’s design encouraged discovery and human connection, proving that the right environment can completely reshape engagement. By combining engineering expertise with aesthetic excellence, Hensley helped create a setting that was not just functional but truly inspiring. 

Redefining The Future Of Corporate Experiences

Project Montana stands as a milestone for everyone involved—a blueprint for how multi-vendor collaboration, when orchestrated with clarity and purpose, can achieve something truly extraordinary. 

Hensley Event Resources continues to redefine what’s possible in the corporate event industry. The project reinforced their role as a structural cornerstone in large-scale production. With decades of experience in tenting, fabrication, and rental production, the company has become a trusted partner for some of the most ambitious event planners and brands in California and beyond. From intimate leadership summits to global conferences and outdoor brand activations, Hensley’s strength lies in its ability to deliver scalable, creative, and technically complex solutions. 

Project Montana stands as a testament to Hensley’s ability to transform large outdoor venues into immersive environments that elevate the attendee experience and bring bold creative visions to life. For Lally Events, Whalefilm and Owl Vision, it showcased the power of bold design thinking brought to life by incredible partners. And for every fabricator and builder on-site, it demonstrated that the future of event environments will be shaped not by one vendor, but by the collective mastery of many.

Explore Hensley’s Large-Scale Capabilities

Whether you’re planning a corporate summit, brand activation, or custom fabrication project, Hensley Event Resources offers the expertise, inventory, and innovation to make it extraordinary.  

Contact our team: sales@hensleyeventresources.com

Follow the full journey on Instagram @hensleyeventresources

Vendors

Produced by @lallyevents

Design, Fabrication and Production Management @whalefilm

Venue: Oakland Coliseum & Arena

Lighting, AV & Production: @owlvisionllc

Structures and Custom Fabrication: @hensleyeventresources

Structural Build: @brownunited

Fabrication Partners:@11thstworkshop · @vx_design_solutions_inc · @pinksparrow_ · @square_la · @boovaradesigns · @alchemyschild · @a3visual

Motion & Visuals: @57thstreetmotionworks@imperialproductions