ES Global, a leading contractor responsible for bringing large-scale event venues and projects to life around the world, is celebrating the success of Soundforms, an all-in-one sound, light, and stage system that can be relocated internationally.
A self-contained, shell-like structure, Soundforms can be configured in four sizes and various shapes and is suitable for almost any environment larger than a residential garden.
Building cultural capital
In 2010, ES Global staging specialist Oliver Watts partnered with conductor Mark Stephenson, architects Jason Flanagan and Paul Bavister from the architectural practice Flanagan and Lawrence, and acoustician Ian Knowles from ARUP Acoustics.
They aimed to create a high-quality open-air stage that set a new standard in both visual and acoustic quality.
This recognised a gap in the market for light-touch, flexibly sized and multipurpose staging designs that could provide affordable options for less competitive and more diverse circuits.
As a result, the team developed the mobile acoustic performance shell (MAPS), with distinctively shaped Soundforms stages designed for a ‘whole’ listening experience with exceptional acoustics at their core.
Flanagan Lawrence
"Cities, globally, are in near-constant competition with each other," says a spokesperson from ES Global.
"Capitals across international borders rival each other and their smaller national neighbours to attract the best cultural reputation, the most economic prosperity and the most impressive buildings. Or, ideally, all three at once.
"From orchestral soirees to instrumental pop, touring music is a magnet for cultural and economic capital. But not all cities can host a melee of music lovers equally."
With Soundforms, locations with little or no performing arts spaces can become viable destinations. Climate permitting, it can be used in previously unusable spaces or natural environments such as desert plateaus, coastal promenades, or city gardens.
Following a demonstration with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 2012, an early Soundforms prototype was installed at the Olympic Park, now Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, for the London 2012 Games.
During this five-week residency, Universal Music sponsored over 1,000 musicians and bands to evaluate its value proposition.
Exceptional auditory experience
Traditional orchestra shells, such as those used in theatres or churches, rely on sound reflections from the building's internal surfaces to reach the audience and are usually large-scale investments.
In open-air settings, without walls to reflect sound, much of the auditory experience is lost to the environment.
With a shape similar to the base of a trochoid shell, Soundforms stages amplify the sound level to the audience through a ‘peak’. This is designed to project beyond the conductor and reflect as much sound as possible towards the audience.
Each stage is tailored to the venue's unique acoustic configurations, from ARUP-designed ‘natural’ acoustic panelling in the shell's interior to immersive sound design systems by L-Acoustics.
Flanagan Lawrence
Designed for easy installation, dismantling and transportation, the stages require minimal people or plant and so keep costs low.
The stages can also be installed permanently, for example, the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, San Diego. This bespoke Californian Soundforms shell uses canvas, ideal for image projection, lighting, illumination, and branding.
With its striking aesthetics, the installation has become a cultural landmark, often described by the community as ‘public art’.
Unusual settings
The stages offer protective qualities similar to those of a traditional building envelope and are adaptable to a variety of climates.
The weatherproof canopy can shelter up to 5,000 people, enabling outdoor performances to continue in wet weather or intense sunshine.
"Like holding a seashell up to your ear to hear the ocean, the Soundforms technology allows for an acoustic soundscape in an unusual setting," says the company.
"Unlike a seashell, the engineering feat can project high-quality sound far more than a listener of one, with some concerts now enjoying audiences up to 10,000 people.
"In a competitive world of global music experiences, maybe it’s best to let nature do some more of the talking."
Earlier this year, ES Global partnered with Alchemy, a specialist in complex project delivery, to design and deliver the USA Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka.
