How ExpoFP supported Verkada One 2025 with a multi-building interactive floor plan across three Chicago venues

For simple events, a PDF floor plan can be enough. For complex events, it usually is not.

When attendees need to move between multiple buildings, different levels, bridges, escalators, session rooms, registration areas and sponsor spaces, static maps quickly create friction. People get lost, organizers answer repetitive navigation questions, and important event areas become harder to discover than they should be.

That was the challenge behind Verkada One 2025 — a high-complexity Chicago event managed by Creative Group that stretched across Marriott Marquis Chicago, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and McCormick Place West, with up to 200 booths plus sessions, meeting rooms, labs, registration and sponsor areas. The goal was not just to display the venue layout. The goal was to make it usable during the live event.

ExpoFP delivered a PRO Design interactive floor plan that brought all of this together into one system: navigation, multi-level wayfinding, booth reservations, sponsor visibility, exhibitor tools and public-facing event clarity.

The challenge: one event across three connected venues

This was a high-complexity venue environment, not a single-hall show.

The event was spread across three connected venues and required attendees to navigate between buildings, levels, bridges, stairs, escalators, session rooms, registration points, sponsor booths and other key event areas. The client needed one map experience that would make this understandable for attendees, while also helping organizers support exhibitor activity and sponsor presence.

The challenge was made harder by an important usability requirement: the map had to stay clear and attendee-friendly without exposing non-public spaces or adding unnecessary confusion.

What the organizer needed

The client's goals were straightforward, even if the venue setup was not.

This mattered because navigation was not a side issue. It was central to the attendee experience and to the operational smoothness of the event itself.

ExpoFP's solution

ExpoFP delivered a PRO Design floor plan built specifically for a multi-building, multi-level event environment. Instead of relying on fragmented venue files and static diagrams, the organizer got one interactive system that combined map clarity with event functionality.

The delivered scope included:

• Interactive floor plan for up to 200 booths
• Online booth reservations
• Sponsorships and booth extras
• Invoicing
• Exhibitor Portal
• Multilevel wayfinding drawn by ExpoFP
• Cross-building navigation across Marriott Marquis, Hyatt Regency and McCormick Place West
• Points of interest for sessions, meeting rooms, registration, labs, sponsor booths and key attendee areas
• Revision support before the event went live

Just as importantly, the scope stayed focused on public-facing event spaces only. Non-public rooms were intentionally excluded from the interactive experience so the map would remain useful instead of overloaded.

How the project was delivered

1. Project intake and planning

ExpoFP collected venue files, layouts and event requirements, then aligned with the client on scope, booth count, feature needs, public-facing spaces and wayfinding priorities. After that, the project moved into production.

2. Map build and feature setup

The production team built the multi-level interactive floor plan from the client's venue files, adding booths, points of interest, bridges, stairs, escalators and cross-building wayfinding. Reservations, sponsor visibility and Exhibitor Portal features were also configured at this stage.

3. Delivery and event preparation

The first version was delivered on August 27, 2025, after payment on August 18, 2025, giving the client time to review and prepare before the event on September 22–24, 2025.

4. Revisions and support

ExpoFP supported revisions after the first delivery, refining details based on feedback and helping ensure that navigation across buildings, levels and bridges remained clear and accurate before the live event.

The result: a venue layout people could actually use

The main outcome was not just visual improvement. It was usability.

ExpoFP turned a complex venue network into a functional event tool. The map helped attendees navigate multiple buildings and levels more easily, while giving the organizer team one place to manage exhibitor visibility, booth activity and key public event areas.

Operationally, the event became easier to navigate and easier to manage.

Commercially, the setup supported sponsor and exhibitor presence within the event experience.

Strategically, the client gained a more scalable solution for a high-complexity event instead of relying on fragmented venue maps.

Measured impact

According to the ExpoFP analytics dashboard for event week, the floor plan delivered:

These figures show that the map was actively used during the event and reached a broad share of attendees. This was not a passive embedded asset — it served as a real navigation layer during the live experience.

Why this case matters for event organizers

This case is especially relevant for organizers dealing with:

• Complex venue layouts
• Multiple buildings or multiple levels
• Connected spaces with bridges or vertical movement
• Events that need wayfinding and exhibitor visibility together
• Events where booth reservations and operations need to be tied to the map experience

The strongest proof point from this project is simple: ExpoFP can support complex events with interactive floor plans that go beyond navigation and also help with exhibitor management and event operations.

Final takeaway

A complex venue should not force your event experience to become fragmented.

Verkada One 2025 shows what happens when the floor plan is treated as an operational layer instead of a static asset. Attendees get clearer navigation. Organizers get a more manageable setup. Exhibitors and sponsors gain stronger visibility within the event experience itself.

For multi-building and multi-level events, that difference matters.