KCI’s entertainment engineers helped bring HBO’s House of the Dragon Season 2 premiere to life with a 270-foot inflatable dragon dramatically perched 1,250 feet atop the Empire State Building.
This groundbreaking installation required precise coordination among industry specialists, utilizing 150 rigging points while preserving the historic structure. To protect the building’s façade, the team relied on preexisting connection holes, antenna mounts, and railing mounts for secure attachment of ropes. The team collaborated closely with the industrial rope access crew and inflatable vendor to navigate the complexities of handling and securing the massive fabric structure at an extreme height. Wind, rain, and lightning posed significant challenges, requiring careful planning and monitoring for safety. To maintain the element of surprise and keep the observation deck open during the day, installation occurred overnight, creating a dramatic unveiling for the premiere.
Also responsible for removal, KCI engineers had to address forecasted high nighttime winds and an approaching lightning storm. In constant communication with the producers, rope access team, and the weather information service, our team determined that daytime dismantling was needed. The structure was successfully removed just 30 minutes before the storm hit, protecting both the installation team and the landmark building.
