Double Deck Tradeshow Exhibits

Put Your Exhibit Footprint On Another Level

Whether you’re searching for a unique way to kick your tradeshow brand visibility up a notch or just looking for a way to maximize your booth’s square footage, our team of designers and manufacturers are skilled in both single and double deck exhibit builds. The sky’s the limit!

What is a Double Deck Exhibit?

A double deck exhibit is a two-story booth used at a tradeshow, expo, or other event. The second level is typically accessible by stairs and can be open-air or enclosed depending on functional and aesthetic requirements.

Below you’ll find some examples from our portfolio of double deck designs as well as best practices for implementing this type of design for your next event.

Benefits of a Double Deck Exhibit Design

With the flexibility of investing in a custom exhibit build or renting an exhibit kit, a double deck exhibit is sure to offer a striking show floor visual and provide a number of benefits to your tradeshow presence.

1. Larger Overall Exhibit Space

Greater square footage comes with greater possibilities! A demo/presentation room, a VIP lounge, a meeting space and more could be housed on the top or bottom levels.

2. Increased Display Area On Your Exhibit

More surface area means more opportunities for marketing and brand messaging from logos and tailored exhibit graphics to vector illustrations and glossy imagery walls.

3. Greater (And Higher) Brand Visibility

Double deck booths tend to be event landmarks as well as brand status symbols. The large footprint and the increased height make for an impressive entrance and a truly standout exhibit.

4. Additional Equipment and Material Storage

A deck often comes equipped with built-in storage under the stairs – eliminating the need for a dedicated storage closet or additional storage cabinets for collateral, swag/giveaways, booth staff’s personal possessions, and other materials.

5. Another Level of Privacy

Open-air, private, or semi-private decks are all possible. Whether you want to keep something from the general public (or your competition!) or you’d like to shout it from your literal rooftop, this type of exhibit can accommodate!

Limitations of a Double Deck Exhibit Design

Despite the benefits, there are a number of limitations to consider when envisioning a double deck exhibit, as compared to typical single-story tradeshow exhibit projects.

1. Advanced Tradeshow Logistics Planning

At most shows, the increased height requires sign off from an engineer, a fire marshal, and the event management team. The larger and heavier an exhibit, the more crates and shipping/transport space needed.

2. Potential for Higher Costs

You can expect a bigger price tag for drayage due to increased weight and larger size. Additional labor is also required to construct the deck, usually taking at least one entire day for installation. But before you baulk on budget, know that in many cases, it may be less expensive than a larger “flat” booth when examining cost per square foot. Plus, double deck exhibits are becoming lighter and easier to configure all the time!

3. Adjusted Accessibility Standards

As noted above, the double deck booth includes a flight (12) or fewer stairs, and the ground floor must be completely accessible to adhere to ADA compliance regulations.

4. Preconfigured Rental Exhibit Kits

Though our custom-built-to-purchase double decks have much more flexibility and allow for more creativity, you can also rent one for less upfront cost. And when renting a preconfigured kit, there are several standard configurations to choose from to fit your exact event needs and your budget – all customized by our expert designers.

5. Exhibit Floorplan Minimum

To build a double deck exhibit, the floorplan space needs to be at least 20 x 20, 400 square feet. The area must also be an island or a peninsula layout.

Where Can I See a Double Deck Exhibit?

Double deck exhibits are everywhere! The only shows where typically not allowed are those held in hotel ballrooms due to the ceiling height restriction. The bigger the show and the more exhibitors, the more likely the event is to have them!

Because space is at such a premium at larger shows, exhibitors may opt for a double deck as a more cost-effective option as opposed to greater single-story square footage. Some shows are not currently allowing exhibitors to increase their footprint because there is a such long wait list of prospective exhibitors waiting to get into the show. Sometimes, going higher is the only way to get more exhibit space!

Condit’s Award-Winning Double Deck Exhibit

Condit’s project for Sierra Space at Space Symposium 2023 was a 20×50 structure, featuring components from ClearLED Ltd., Highmark TechSystems USA, and Moss Inc.

The large-scale, multi-story exhibit offered a semi-transparent space surrounded by immersive LED panels with dedicated meeting areas and display stations. This impressive high-tech environment was a collaborative design with branding agency Plant Street Studios.

Condit was honored to receive the coveted Zeigler Award from Exhibitor Magazine after making the highest cumulative score and garnering the most votes in the entire 2024 Portable Modular Awards program.

Does a Double Deck Exhibit Make Sense for My Brand?

If you’re interested in creating a booth that makes a statement on the show floor, a double deck exhibit might be right for you. From large shows where many exhibitors opt to “go big or go home” to smaller events were unique and creative displays will draw the most attention, these designs are a sure fire way to immediately boost tradeshow visibility.

Let Our Double Deck Exhibit Team Elevate Your Business

Our custom design process paired alongside an extensive list of tradeshow capabilities means we can craft a double deck exhibit that brings your brand to life in two-stories!

To learn more, contact our team directly or use the form below. Already have an idea and ready to build? Let’s start a double deck project today.