A haunting Halloween installation in Dallas

As the shadows of October grow longer, a familiar cast of characters returns to 400 Record Street. Towering 16 feet above the ground, four colossal skeletons transform the urban landscape into a playful spectacle, bringing a touch of the macabre to the heart of the city. Behind the imposing silhouettes lies a story of engineering and artful ingenuity.

“For the third consecutive year, Crozier’s Dallas team has partnered with Labora to bring oversized skeletons to life on the outdoor plaza of their 400 Record Street property. The project began with little more than approximate dimensions and a pixelated rendering from the manufacturer. Once the components arrived, the team could assess their construction, weight, and anchoring requirements.

Despite their imposing stature, each skeleton weighs approximately 600-700 pounds. Securing them required three custom concrete bases per figure, each weighing roughly 800 pounds. Cast in our Crozier shop and fabricated for the original installation, these reusable bases have since supported other temporary installations for Labora.

The site presented its own obstacles. Without a loading dock, restricted access for heavy lifting equipment, and the skeleton torsos being too tall for our gantries, conventional installation methods were not possible. Working with the building’s engineer, the art handling team developed a rigging approach that used structural elements of the building’s canopy, allowing the architecture itself to support the installation process.

What began as an exercise in navigating the unknown, has become a familiar annual undertaking. With months of advance planning and three years of experience, the team now completes the delivery and installation in a few days.

The result? A hauntingly memorable display that proves that even the most spirited creative visions rest on a foundation of technical expertise.