Some milestones demand more than a cake and a banner. The University of Utah's 175th anniversary was one of them.
The university marked the occasion with a year-long campaign under the fitting tagline "175 years and still climbing" and brought it all to a head with the 175th Celebration Bash on October 16, 2025, at the A. Ray Olpin Student Union on campus. The event was open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the broader community, featuring a live band, performances, games, food, and a drone and light show that lit up the Salt Lake City skyline.
Modern Expo was proud to be part of making that night unforgettable.
A 175th anniversary celebration for a major public university isn't a small event; it's a statement. The U needed a production partner who could bring together the full scope of what a landmark celebration requires: branded environments, elegant decor, immersive experiential moments, technical production, and the kind of polish that honors what 175 years of excellence actually means.
Every element needed to feel worthy of the occasion. The guests walking through the doors weren't just event attendees, they were students, faculty who had devoted careers to the institution, alumni who carried the U's identity with them across decades and across the world. The environment needed to speak to all of them.
Modern Expo brought a full suite of services to the 175th Celebration Bash, working across every dimension of the event environment.
Branding and Signage
We produced comprehensive branded signage throughout the event space, rooting every corner of the celebration in the U's visual identity. From large-format graphics to area designations, the branding created a cohesive environment that felt intentional and celebratory from the moment guests arrived.
Custom Furniture and Tables
We furnished the event with tables and custom furniture designed to complement the celebratory atmosphere, using pieces that supported the flow of the event while elevating the overall aesthetic beyond a standard campus gathering.
Custom Floral Decor and Centerpieces
Our team created custom floral arrangements and centerpieces that brought warmth, color, and elegance to the event space. Every table and designated area was accented with intentional floral design, adding a layer of refinement befitting a milestone of this magnitude.
Large Entrance Arches
First impressions matter, and at the 175th Celebration Bash, arriving guests were welcomed through large custom entrance arches with the slogan "175 Years And Still Climbing" printed across the top. The arches framed the entry experience and set the tone for everything inside.
Custom 3D Lettering
Dimensional 3D lettering was installed as a signature element of the event's visual landscape. Whether anchoring a photo backdrop or standing as a focal point in the space, the custom lettering gave the celebration a landmark quality, the kind of detail guests gravitate toward and remember.
Immersive Photo Booth Structures and Props
Photo moments were a centerpiece of the experience, and we built them out in a big way. We designed and installed a range of custom photo booth structures, complimenting them with themed props that invited guests to step in, celebrate, and capture the moment. For an event that called on people to make history as part of a digital time capsule, these structures gave every guest a personal piece of the celebration to take home.
Audio/Visual Production
Our AV team handled the technical backbone of the event, ensuring that sound and visual elements were seamlessly integrated into the celebration.
When the doors opened on October 16, the A. Ray Olpin Student Union was transformed. Guests walked under grand entrance arches into a fully realized celebration environment that was branded, decorated, furnished, and built for the moment. Photo booth structures drew crowds throughout the evening. Custom florals graced every table. The 3D lettering became an anchor of the space that guests returned to again and again.
As the night gave way and the drone show began, Modern Expo's work had already done its job: it told every guest, from the moment, that the University of Utah understood the weight of what 175 years means and was ready to celebrate it in a way that matched.
