Project showcase: Woodland wonderland

Stamford Tent & Event Services installed a 25-by-40-meter clear Losberger Levo Conservatory for the main structure, with glass walls and a 5-by-5-meter entrance foyer. Mature trees and shrubs around the perimeter created the illusion that the structure had always existed within the woods.

When the host of a weeklong conference for event planners decided on its theme—a “crystal palace” deep within the forest of a luxury resort—the planners knew they wanted the highest-quality tent equipment and event planning services available. Nemacolin resort in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands opted for Stamford, Conn.-based Stamford Tent & Event Services to bring its vision to life. The company planned and installed multiple tents and support services for the event, which made it look like the structures had always been there, nestled in the woods—a shimmering oasis that paradoxically stood out while blending in. It was a tall order, but one that Stamford Tent delivered.

The event took approximately six months to plan and, when complete, welcomed 350 guests in June 2024. The main structure Stamford Tent installed was a 25-by-40-meter clear Losberger Levo Conservatory with glass walls and a 5-by-5-meter entrance foyer that created a stunning, light-filled structure immersed in nature. The crew also installed a 12-by-25-meter, a 5-by-5-meter and two 30-by-30-foot structures in addition to connecting marquees. Installation required precision and ingenuity, including the use of specialized machinery and a crane to maneuver the glass elements into place. As the tenting took shape, the design team also installed mature trees and shrubs around the perimeter to create the illusion that the conservatory had always existed within the woods.

Ground RE-preparations

Luxurious venue with black and white checkered floor, ornate chandeliers, greenery, and elegantly set tables, creating a festive atmosphere. — Stamford Tent brought a “crystal palace” theme to life for an event planners conference at the Nemacolin resort in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands.

The designated build area needed final grading and prep work prior to Stamford Tent’s arrival and with extreme weather in the mix, the time frame tightened considerably. “We were informed one week prior to commencement of our load-in,” says Stephen Frost, who recently retired as the CEO and senior advisor for Stamford Tent & Event Services. “From there, we worked closely with the excavation team, building alongside them as they finished clearing and leveling the site. It definitely compressed the schedule, but it allowed us to keep things moving.”

As the project progressed, it became clear that an existing retaining wall at the 25-by-60-meter build site would need to be reinforced to support the full scope of the installation, including tenting, flooring and HVAC. “We coordinated with the Nemacolin team and adjusted the schedule to allow for those updates,” Frost says. “It was a collaborative effort to make sure everything was ready and properly supported.”

Invisibility, please

A towering glass structure illuminated with vibrant, colorful lights, showcasing intricate patterns and reflections against a dark backdrop. — The Losberger Levo engineered structure’s fully transparent roof provided guests the experience of being surrounded by nature while being comfortably sheltered.

Additional accommodations became necessary by the time many of the standard white service tents had been erected. New information from the client insisted that no back-of-house structures be visible from the main event space, meaning the crew needed to replace the white tents with all-black tents to ensure they blended into the forest backdrop. Stamford Tent was given one week to accomplish this, including fabricating and shipping. “We had to completely remove the tops and replace the tops and walls from white to black,” Frost says. “The tops had to be air-freighted from two separate manufacturers to make sure this happened within the time allowed.”

Second site

Simultaneously, on a separate area of the property, Stamford Tent managed the installation of another large-scale tented venue for the education seminars and several luncheons throughout the week. This included a 25-by-60-meter Losberger structure and a 10-by-10-meter entry, as well as several more structures and a series of connectors to support the events. The install also included complete leveled subfloors for all structures, stairs, ADA ramps, full HVAC, two restroom trailers and wall-to-wall carpet.

To support the elaborate lighting and scenic elements required by the event’s design, Stamford Tent added an additional plywood subfloor throughout the 25-by-60-meter structure, ensuring stability for heavy equipment—the details of which the crew learned about approximately one week prior to load-in. The floor was engineered and reinforced to support a 56-foot-diameter, 35,000-pound rotating stage to accommodate the event’s headline entertainers.

Outside, stone walkways were created after all the tents were installed to give guests the feeling of a hidden but elaborate build within the forest.

Natural beauty

A grand indoor event with a transparent roof, chandeliers, and elegantly dressed guests seated at long tables under a starlit sky. — Decor provided by Ed Libby & Co. featured an exquisite array of lighting set against shades of green to enhance the installation’s connection to the natural landscape.

Decor for the event was handled by Ed Libby (Ed Libby & Co.), an internationally renowned event designer and creative director who is now a part of the Nemacolin resort team. Libby’s use of scale and incorporation of all five senses in his decor scheme enhanced the installation’s connection to the natural landscape. The result was a weeklong event that was a stunning success—so much so that Nemacolin hired Stamford Tent & Event Services to return for another weeklong series of events later in June for its Summer Solstice celebration.

Sigrid Tornquist is a Minneapolis, Minn.-based writer and editor and former InTents editor.

All photos courtesy of Stamford Tent & Event Services.

Including this Woodland Wonderland installation that won a 2025 Outstanding Achievement Award for private tent rental, Stamford Tent & Event Services has won 21 International Achievement Awards for Excellence in Tenting from Advanced Textile Association. Stamford Tent’s success is built not only on expertise, but also on its intentional integrity. Its tenets are:

To provide the most knowledgeable, professional, creative and reliable tent equipment and service in the industry.
To treat customers with courtesy and respect and to ensure their experience with our company and our employees is an enjoyable one.
To provide event planning services and tent equipment at a price that gives the customer fair value while allowing the company to realize a reasonable profit.
As a team and as individuals, we will always do what is “right.” Doing the right thing isn’t always easy. It is easy, however, to know whether or not a course of action is right. If we have to ask ourselves, “Is this right?” we already know the answer.
We will be each other’s staunchest allies. In a world filled with constant changes, our relationship with each other will be a constant we can count on. As members of this team, we will always support each other. We will never undermine a fellow team member, and we will not tolerate it from others.
We will listen. We will listen to each other, our customers and any other source of information and knowledge. We know we must continue to learn. We believe knowledge is power. We will learn as much as possible about our profession, our industry, our company and customer needs. We will find out what our customers want, and we will give it to them.
We will be accountable. Each one of us is accountable for our own actions. When we commit to a course of action, there will be consequences. We accept the consequences of our actions and inactions. We realize we are not perfect. We will, however, strive for perfection at all times. When we err, we will admit our error and learn from it.
We will treat everyone with respect. We will respect the dignity of each other, our customers and everyone with whom we come in contact.
We will continue to strive for perfection. Each task we attempt will be measured against perfection. Even though it may seem impossible to achieve this goal, we will never give up trying. We will demand excellence from ourselves and from each other.