Frank & Marcotullio Design Associates, Inc.

Retail/Hospitality

Laserfair

New York, New York

This startup retail company commissioned our firm to develop a prototypical compact disc store to be at the cutting edge of technology in both concept and design. The design and construction was completed on a fast track schedule, and built on a strict budget.

The street level shop was located on Trinity Street, in downtown New York City. Measuring approximately 1,000 square feet, the space is long and narrow, with a storage area in the back.

Austrian manufactured display units were used for the compact disc displays. The store design included customer driven activity to attract people into the store. Aesthetically, the finishes and lighting are unique and intriguing.

Of additional interest and as a helpful selling tool, suspended headphone display units above the center fixtures allowed customers to preview a selection of six currently playing CD's while thumbing through the CD cases on the display units. At the same time, laser disc videos are played on the video monitors and CD sound pulsates throughout the store. The Audio/Video equipment is hidden at the back sales counter. This equipment controls all of the music and videos, which are connected with concealed wiring.

The displays are set off by a backdrop of textured walls which were composed of scratch coated plaster, painted in a vibrant eye-catching blue violet. Black carpet with colored flecks, and a floating grey ceiling, add to the drama of this retail shop. MR-16 track lighting highlights the display units, the compact discs, and the special merchandise displays.

Frank & Marcotullio won the Halo/Metalux National Design Competition for this project.