100th Anniversary of WSBI Congress

The Brief

The World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) celebrated its 100th anniversary in Rome. Representatives from banks, financial institutions and international organisations from around the world gathered at one of the most significant events in the global financial sector. The Hurricane team’s task was to design and oversee the technical and production aspects of the event to ensure it met the expectations of the international audience, both in the venue and online. The congress took place in a hybrid format, with one of the main priorities being to ensure an equally high-quality experience for participants on site and for viewers watching the event remotely.

Our Solution

In our design, we focused not only on the technology itself, but above all on how participants would experience the event. The hybrid format was supported by robotic PTZ cameras and simultaneous interpreting into five languages, enabling participants from different countries to take part without any language or geographical barriers. The main programme took place in the iconic Auditorium della Tecnica. To ensure that every participant would have a high-quality visual experience regardless of their position in the hall, we developed the entire stage concept using 3D simulations. These allowed us to plan the stage, visuals and the movement of individual elements in detail even before the actual production.

The centrepiece of the space was a curved LED screen measuring 20 × 4.5 metres with a resolution of almost 8K. Together with the broadcast-style stage, it created a striking visual whole that seamlessly integrated the content of the presentations, discussions and live broadcast. During the speech by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, which was also broadcast by Italian national television, the lighting was adjusted to highlight every detail. Transparent elements and reflective surfaces created the impression of an open and timeless space. Every detail was designed to support the content without distracting the participants’ attention.

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