American Chemical Society

Vomela Had the Right Formula for ACS’s Sesquicentennial

The 150th anniversary was a significant moment for ACS, and the event team was after something with a “wow” factor. They got it.

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The Challenge

Make It Unforgettable

When the American Chemical Society—one of the world’s largest scientific organizations, with a history stretching back to 1876—planned its 150th Anniversary celebration in Washington, DC, the event team had a clear mandate: Make it unforgettable. ACS wasn’t looking for a backdrop. They were looking for an environment that communicated the gravity of the milestone the moment attendees walked through the door.

The centerpiece of that vision was a dramatic 13-foot anniversary arch. Flanking it: mesh banners and perforated window film graphics that would carry the celebratory identity throughout the entire venue. The visual program needed to deliver on a “wow” factor worthy of a 150-year legacy—and it needed to come together on a tight timeline.

The Solution

Precision at Scale

Vomela’s team brought the ACS vision to life, from fabrication through final installation. The project required close coordination between the Vomela and the ACS event leadership if they were to manage fast-turn production while ensuring every element arrived on site ready for a flawless setup.

The 13-foot arch served as a dramatic entry feature—the kind of installation that stops people in their tracks. The mesh banners and perforated window graphics extended the anniversary branding throughout the venue, building a cohesive visual identity that wrapped attendees in the celebration from arrival to departure.

The Result

They Loved It So Much, They Kept It

ACS’s response was immediate. The client shared enthusiastic feedback on both the quality of the graphics and the professionalism of the Vomela team. Said Chris Downs, Vomela Sales Director, Retail Graphics: “The ACS team loved the fact that the finished result worked exactly as planned—both from a functionality standpoint and a visual standpoint. We executed on their vision perfectly.”

The impact of the installation spoke for itself: ACS kept the arch up well past the original event date, a quiet testament to just how well it landed. The installation didn’t just meet expectations. It became part of the celebration itself.

ACS even captured a full timelapse of the installation process, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the precision and teamwork that brought it all together.

Key Takeaways

Milestone events demand more than logistics. They demand a partner that understands that the environment is part of the story. Vomela’s ability to design, produce, and install large-format event graphics at scale gave ACS the “wow” factor their 150th anniversary deserved, delivered on deadline, and executed without a hitch.

For organizations planning high-stakes events where the physical environment must do serious work, that level of execution isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s the difference between an event people attend and one they remember.