Elizabeth Arden’s only street level location at 5th Avenue and 54th Street in New York City, showcases the firm’s beauty brands and designer/celebrity fragrances, while an upper floor houses their Red Door Salon and Spa. McCann Systems was called on to deliver fresh audio visual integration concepts to the uniquely shaped street level site. The ground floor retail space is extremely narrow, leading the architects to design a “wave-like structure” with compound curves running the length of the store. Instead of encroaching on the narrow space, the curved wall actually makes the space appear wider. McCann Systems created an in-store display to complement the wall and impact visitors walking in as well as attract those walking on 5th Avenue.
To meet the challenge, McCann’s designers used a flexible, 38” wide by 52” tall, rear projection, acrylic screen by Large Screen Displays, the screen was formed to match the curvature of the walls. The screen, also a wave like structure becomes part of the wall.
Working in a tight, narrow space behind the screen, engineers laid a Panasonic projector on its back and installed it on a rear projection sled. The projection angle and projector focal length were critical elements and carefully calculated and adjusted by our specialists. Programmed for convenience Content runs on a continuous loop off a video player. Using a Crestron Control System programmed by McCann’s software engineers, content is easily called up and scheduled; including ad campaigns, product photos, company news and other promotional messages.
As a final request, the client did not want the speakers to be visible. To accommodate this task, McCann Systems chose and installed invisible ceiling speakers designed by Sound Advance. Engineered to become an integral part of the ceiling surface, the speakers are covered with a flat vellum overlay that can be finished to match any décor or color using latex paint or textured coatings. The result: the speakers appear as one with the ceiling, virtually invisible.
