As has been well documented within the pages of TPiMEA, when it comes to size, scale and complexity, there aren’t many events anywhere in the world that can compare with MDLBEAST Soundstorm. While up to now our coverage of the annual mega-festival has focussed primarily on its eye-catching production elements, behind the record-breaking LED screens, dazzling lights, lasers and SFX, there’s an unseen engineering masterpiece that supports the entire operation.
The company behind many of these feats of engineering is Robert Bird Group (RBG) – a structural and civil engineering consultancy that lends its expertise to complex projects all over the world, working with both client and contractor to “make the impossible, possible”. Jovana Lukac, Associate Director and Events Lead at RBG, wound back the clocks on the company’s relationship with MDLBEAST. “We’ve been working with MDLBEAST as the company’s engineering partner for the past five years,” she began. “We play a constant role, working on several MDLBEAST events throughout the year including, of course, Soundstorm, which is a year-round project in itself.”
In 2024, Soundstorm’s BIG BEAST stage smashed the Guinness World record for the largest continuous temporary outdoor LED screen [read more about that in TPiMEA#52]. “The scale and complexity of the stage required our team to lead advanced structural design efforts that balanced aesthetics, rigging capacity, and buildability – all within a dramatically short lead time,” Lukac recalled.
The stage roof structure was designed with a 600-tonne rigging capacity – making it the largest capacity stage roof structure ever built. “This enabled bold creative possibilities, such as the dramatic 15m cantilever that supported massive scenic cubes, appearing to float above the audience and intensifying the immersive visual impact of the performance,” Lukac added, noting that the entire RBG global team –spanningtheir offices in Riyadh, Dubai, London and New York as well as Australia and South Africa – came together to deliver designs around the clock to ensure that the output kept pace with the ever-evolving vision of the creative team.
One of the stand-out elements of Soundstorm is undoubtedly its premium offering. VIBs (Very Important Beasts) are treated to a seamless experience that starts with valet parking right at the site entrance, before stepping directly onto a bridge that leads into a 3km network of modular walkways elevated 5m above the ground, which allows access to every stage across the expansive site without the need to ever touch the floor.
“Every structure we design for the Soundstorm site is modular and completely reconfigurable, which allows for the site to transform from year to year if required,” Lukac explained. “We always engineer our structures with that events mindset, and that has served us well.”
Similarly modular in nature are the VIB hospitality suites. “These weren’t ordinary modular structures,” Lukac recalled. “Built offsite to ensure precision and quality, each suite was delivered in oversized modules that far exceeded industry-standard dimensions – specifically to accommodate larger groups with comfort. Every module included its own in-built bathroom, tailored interior fitout, and was pre-finished to allow plug-and-play installation on site.”
Despite their complexity, the suites were delivered within just five months from concept to completion – a feat that required what Joshua Paviour, CS+C Operations Director, AMEP and Regional Director – Urban Development (AMEP), described as “intense coordination” and “shared intent” across all parties involved. “It was a demonstration of what can happen when client, engineers, project managers, and contractors operate as one team with one goal,” he commented.
Beyond the stages and hospitality offerings, the level of infrastructure built into the Soundstorm site is more akin to a city than a festival. “RBG led the complete civil engineering design, from general site grading to a comprehensive stormwater drainage system, permanent power supply and potable water and sewage networks,” Paviour revealed.
To support the massive volume of attendees, RBG also designed and oversaw the construction of millions of square metres of parking space, accommodating over 80,000 vehicles. “These systems were engineered not just for functionality, but for resilience and sustainability,” noted Associate Director, Michael Bransfield.
To further improve access and traffic flow, RBG also designed large pedestrian bridges linking the parking zones with the main festival grounds. “These bridges spanned key road corridors and played a vital role in improving mobility and the overall guest journey,” she added.
Additionally, RBG supported the planning and delivery of new internal roads and external bypasses, which significantly reduced travel times and helped decongest the surrounding infrastructure. With a focus on efficiency and flexibility, infrastructure components were designed to support evolving site layouts and future editions of the festival.
“Perhaps the greatest challenge in event engineering is the shifting vision,” Bransfield commented. “In the world of live entertainment, minds change. Designs evolve until the last moment.” RBG navigated this dynamic environment by embedding flexibility into the design process. Structures were designed not only to meet immediate needs but also to be demountable and reconfigurable for future events. Infrastructure systems were developed to support multiple operational layouts, so the same site could function as one large venue or several smaller zones, as seen with the recent A Thousand and One festival [TPiMEA#55].
“In the end, it’s not about steel or concrete; it’s about creating memories. When nearly a million people gather in the middle of the desert and find themselves in awe of the experience, it’s a powerful reminder of what thoughtful engineering can enable,” Lukac concluded. “MDLBEAST Soundstorm is a celebration of music, culture, and vision. For RBG, it’s also a celebration of collaboration, creativity, and delivering under pressure. It’s about saying ‘yes’ to the unimaginable – and then making it real.”
MDLBEAST Soundstorm Festival Co-Director, Matt Richman, shared his take on RBG’s contribution to the event: “RBG has been the backbone behind our civil works projects, working at entertainment speed to help bring our designs and permanent structures online for festival weekend,” he stated. “They are a true partner.”
Photos: MDLBEAST, Robert Bird Group
