Verizon Wireless lives up to the name of the Magnificent Mile with its Chicago Destination Store. As part of Verizon’s broader brand redesign initiative, the Destination Store introduces new ways of doing business that make shopping for wireless devices and services easier, more convenient, and more personalized. Designed by longtime design partner Chute Gerdeman, this 20,000 square foot wireless wonderland is packed with the tools and training to integrate technology into any lifestyle. Visitors explore possibilities through interactive displays and signage engineered and integrated by McCann Systems.
The technology playground is fully equipped with the digital essentials for streamlining every way of life. Throughout the store are several lifestyle zones to easily locate today’s crucial tech toys. Interactive displays provide a self-guided exploratory experience while digital signage glows from 3×3 55” videowalls in each zone.
A Christie Digital MicroTile LED monolith tower spans the first and second floor. At almost 38 feet tall and just over 10 feet wide, four million pixels radiate from the store interior and out onto Michigan Avenue. The digitally branded monument enhances the customer experience with dynamic elements splashing across the colossal canvas. High resolution imagery is beautifully reproduced with crystal clarity, high contrast, and an expansive color palette. Four control units maintain the high profile display while a single custom built PC is equipped with X2O software to manage content and synchronicity throughout the towering monument of technology.
Directly above the retail area on the third floor, the Executive Briefing Center revamps the traditional collaboration area with three 75” HD Flat screens with touch overlays mounted on three different walls within the room. Each 75” Flat screen will have a dedicated PC and will allow for touch and white boarding capabilities using Samsung’s IWB Magic Whiteboard software. Wireless presentation is capable via a Crestron Air Media Presentation Gateway. Up to four participants can wirelessly present content securely from a laptop or mobile device to the displays in the room.
Sound is key in completing this technology rich retail and collaboration experience. BSS controls the DSP processing for the wireless mics, the ambient sound, and the individual audio zones. Control of the audio system is accomplished using a Medialon system that recognizes spoken commands from a Verizon supplied audio app installed on various tablet devices. The Medialon system also handles the task of powering the system on and off each day.
Verizon Wireless is transforming the traditional store concept into an immersive life-style experience with this and forthcoming Destination Stores. These technology rich retail havens introduce the future of the cutting edge customer environment.
Photo Credits: Mark Steele Photography
