London Stock Exchange Projection Sphere Installation
A 2,200mm fragile projection sphere with a specialist film coating that couldn't be touched by hand needed to be delivered, transported through security turnstiles and lifted into position in the main atrium. We designed and fabricated a bespoke steel cradle to make it happen.
A Fragile 2.2m Projection Sphere Into the Heart of the Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange needed a large projection sphere installed in their main atrium. Once in place, the sphere would display live market indices from exchanges around the world - a centerpiece visible to everyone entering the building.
The sphere itself was 2,200mm in diameter and weighed 265kg, but weight wasn't the primary concern. The outer surface was coated with a specialist projection film that could not be touched by hand. Any contact with skin oils would permanently damage the coating and ruin the display surface. The sphere had to be moved, manoeuvred and lifted entirely without direct contact.
Access presented its own set of problems. The front revolving doors of the building were removed by another contractor on a tight programme, so our work had to be precisely coordinated within that window. Once inside, the sphere had to pass through the entrance turnstiles - but the turnstiles couldn't be removed, so all lifting equipment had to be narrow enough to fit through them as there was no headroom for overhead lifting. Finally, the sphere needed to be raised approximately 2 metres and positioned with precision onto its projector mount in the atrium.
- Specialist film coating — zero hand contact permitted
- All equipment had to fit through narrow security turnstiles
- No overhead headroom for conventional lifting inside the building
- Tight scheduling around revolving door removal by another contractor
- Precision positioning onto projector mount at 2m height
Bespoke Steel Cradle and Dual-Hoist Lifting System
With no off-the-shelf solution available, we designed and fabricated a bespoke steel trolley specifically for this project. The system comprised a wheeled steel frame with two semi-circular curved bands that bolted together around the sphere, cradling it securely and had minimal direct contact with the projection film surface.
A Genie material lift hoist was attached at each end of the cradle frame, giving us controlled, synchronised lifting from both sides. This dual-hoist arrangement allowed us to raise the sphere evenly and maintain its orientation throughout the move. A complex tandem material lift operation is often a concern, but as each material lift had a higher capacity than the complete sphere it passed lifting compliance.
We took delivery of the sphere and loaded it into the cradle at our facility, then transported the complete assembly to site. On arrival, the wheeled frame allowed us to roll the sphere through the entrance and navigate through the security turnstiles. Once through into the atrium, the two Genie hoists lifted the sphere to the required height and we positioned it precisely onto its projector mount.
The entire operation required careful coordination with the main contractor managing the front facade works, along with the Stock Exchange's own security and facilities teams.
- Designed & fabricated bespoke steel cradle with curved contact bands
- Dual Genie material hoists for synchronised, controlled lifting
- Wheeled frame sized to pass through security turnstiles
- Zero direct hand contact with the projection film surface
- Precision placement onto projector mount at 2m height
Installed in a Day With Zero Damage to the Sphere
The projection sphere was delivered, transported through the building and lifted into its final position in a single day. The specialist film coating remained completely unblemished throughout — no marks and no damage to either the sphere or the building.
Once connected, the sphere displayed live market data from stock exchanges around the world, becoming a signature feature of the London Stock Exchange's entrance atrium. The client and the project designers were both happy with the result.
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