Outdoor truss structures are the frame underneath most experiential marketing builds. The brand activation, festival entrance, sampling frame, or photo moment that guests see is usually built on a skeleton of 12×12 aluminum box truss standing on steel base plates. AVLS Rentals supplies that frame, packed as one order with the straight sections, corner blocks, circle rings, and bases, and ships it to outdoor sites in all 50 states.

What outdoor truss structures do in an experiential build

In an experiential project, the truss is rarely the star. It is the structure that holds graphics, lighting, scenic, and product where the design calls for them, then comes down after the event. Common outdoor uses include:

• Brand activations: open cube frames and walk-through structures that carry logos, product displays, and lighting.
• Festival structures: entrance arches, wayfinding frames, and sponsor gateways.
• Pop-up activations: temporary frames on a plaza, lawn, or parking lot.
• Sampling frames: truss beside or around a sampling tent for signage and lights.
• Photo moments: goalposts with hanging elements, ring frames, and branded backdrops.
• LED, lighting, and banner frames: goalposts and towers that hold fixtures, screens, or printed banners.
• Skinned scenic: frames a fabricator wraps so the truss disappears.

The 12×12 pieces behind outdoor truss structures

Every piece comes from the AVLS truss rental catalog, so the parts connect as one system:

• Straight 12×12 box truss in 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 10 ft lengths, built from 6061-T6 aluminum tube.
• 6-way corner blocks and 6-inch spacers for cubes, towers, and fine layout adjustments.
• Circle truss in 10 ft and 12 ft outside diameters for rings and halos. See the circle truss rental guide.
• Steel base plates in 2×2 (24 x 24 inch) and 3×3 (36 x 36 inch) sizes for ground-supported towers. The truss base plates guide explains the difference.

Frames that fabricators skin, wrap, and dress

Many outdoor truss structures are never meant to look like truss. Fabricators wrap them in fabric, printed graphics, or panels, or dress them with scenic. AVLS supplies the frame; the fabricator supplies the skin. Tell us early how skins will attach so we can flag anything that could damage rental truss, and give your engineer every wrap and banner. A covered frame catches more wind than an open one, which changes the ballast and wind plan.

Some builds add finished scenic too. AVLS rents illuminated 2 ft cube stage sets that can ship on the same order. For how structure and scenic split on a sketch, read stage sets vs truss and the illuminated stage set rental guide.

Outdoor safety: wind, ballast, and engineering

Outdoor truss structures are temporary structures, and they need a plan made by qualified people before anything goes up. The industry reference is ANSI E1.21, listed among ESTA’s published standards for temporary outdoor entertainment structures.

• Engineering review: have a qualified engineer review the design, including skins, banners, lighting, and anything hung from the frame.
• Wind and ballast plan: ballast goes on the steel base plates when the engineer calls for it, in the amount and position the plan specifies. We don’t publish wind or load numbers.
• Weather watch: someone on site should track the forecast against the plan’s wind limits, with clear steps for when conditions approach them.
• Ground conditions: grass, asphalt, sand, and slopes all affect how bases sit. Tell the engineer the actual surface.
• Rigging: anything flown or hung, from lights to swings to banners, should be planned and installed by qualified riggers.

How AVLS works with agencies, fabricators, and producers

Here is the process AVLS follows on outdoor truss structures:

1. Early drawing review: send a rendering, CAD file, or sketch with dimensions. We turn it into a piece list and flag any size or part that is not in the catalog before you lock the design.
2. One package: straight sections, corner blocks, spacers, circle rings, and steel bases are counted and packed as one order.
3. Nationwide shipping: AVLS ships from warehouses in the Chicago area, Las Vegas, and Houston. See how nationwide truss rental shipping works.
4. Scenic on the same quote: stage sets and truss can be priced and shipped together.
5. A clear checklist: the truss rental quote checklist lists what we need up front.
6. Install support on request: if you want install support, say so and ask for it to be quoted for your site.

What to send for an outdoor truss structures quote

1. Site address or city, and the ground surface
2. Build days, event days, strike day, and any weather backup dates
3. Rendering or sketch with overall height, width, and depth
4. Skins, wraps, banners, or scenic, and who is fabricating them
5. Anything flown or hung, and who is rigging it
6. Engineer contact and who is supplying ballast
7. Whether you want install support quoted

FAQ: outdoor truss structures

Can 12×12 box truss be used for outdoor structures?

Yes. Aluminum 12×12 box truss is commonly used outdoors for activations, arches, and frames, as long as the build follows an engineered plan that covers wind, ballast, and ground conditions.

How are outdoor truss structures kept stable?

Towers stand on steel base plates, and ballast is added when the engineer calls for it. The wind plan sets limits, and someone on site watches the weather.

Can a fabricator wrap or skin rental truss?

Fabricators commonly wrap truss frames with fabric, graphics, or panels. Share the attachment method with AVLS before building, and give the engineer the full wrap design, since skins add wind area.

Does AVLS ship outdoor truss structures nationwide?

Yes. AVLS ships truss, bases, and stage sets to all 50 states from warehouses in the Chicago area, Las Vegas, and Houston.

AVLS Rentals has been in business since 2001. To plan outdoor truss structures for your next activation, request a quote, call (773) 457-3544, or email rentals@avlsrentals.com with a rendering. For straight-section sizing, see the 12×12 box truss rental guide.