Los Angeles, CA
Strategic Design
Creative Development
Production
On-Site Logistics
onoring Tradition, Building What’s Next The installation of Loyola Marymount University’s 17th president marked a pivotal moment in the life of the institution. To honor that milestone, LMU hosted two signature events, an evening gala and a formal inauguration ceremony, both held inside Gersten Pavilion and delivered less than 24 hours apart.
Level5 partnered with LMU to support this historic transition through thoughtful production, scenic design, and on-site execution. The challenge was clear: transform an unconventional athletic venue into two distinct environments that felt ceremonial, intentional, and worthy of the moment, all within a compressed pre-production timeline.
Gersten Pavilion was reimagined—twice! Each transformation was designed to support a different emotional tone and purpose. While visually distinct, both environments were designed to feel complementary, connected by a shared design language that carried the story of transition from one event to the next.
For the gala dinner, the space was softened and elevated through lighting, gobos, and atmospheric effects, creating a warm, celebratory environment without the use of video screens. The focus was on intimacy, movement, and surprise, allowing the evening to unfold as a shared celebration of leadership and community.
By contrast, the inauguration ceremony required a formal, dignified setting capable of welcoming a much larger audience. Overnight, the venue shifted into a structured, ceremonial environment anchored by custom scenic elements that framed the stage and a large projection screen which reinforced the significance of the occasion.
