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Michael K

New York, NewYork, USA

Imagine a retail space where color-changing pathways meander through two floors of ultra cool vendor displays, and high-energy music pulsates from an in-house DJ booth. That’s Michael K in downtown Manhattan. Conceptualized by Tobin+Parnes Design Enterprises, this 22,000 square foot space features all the high-tech, modern touches of a nightclub to complement its hip, urban image, including intelligent LED lighting from Color Kinetics.

According to project architect and interior designer Vlad Zadneprianski, “LED technology was one of the major tools required to achieve our goal: the creation of an exciting, unique, and shopper-friendly retail environment that engages all aspects of the customer's senses, emotions and lifestyle.”

Michael K features several applications of Color Kinetics’ LED lighting, including 1,000+ feet of iColor® Cove that’s recessed into the floor, creating dynamic, colorful pathways that lead customers from one end of the store to the other. Additional iColor Cove systems are installed in soffits under the ceiling to mimic the pathway concept and reinforce the visual effect.

LED lighting systems are also used to illuminate the “trellises” installed above each vendor space, which unifies the distinctive sportswear brands within the overall store design, while also giving each vendor the opportunity to create customized, local light shows if desired. The trellises are illuminated by iColor Cove, which was housed in custom 2’x 2’ panels that were designed by Michaels Electrical. Each panel has a special lens and reflector inside to disperse the illumination as desired.

Throughout the store, ColorBlast® systems wash rich, colored light along the interior’s mainly metal surfaces, highlighting various display fixtures and signs. Even the exterior storefront makes use of the LED illumination technology to capture the attention of passersby and call attention to featured merchandise.

All of the LED-based systems are highly controllable and able to synchronize with the store’s upbeat music, which lends to the overall energy of the space. Custom light shows were authored for the Color Kinetics systems with ColorPlay® software and stored on eight iPlayer® 2 devices. The lighting scheme is controlled with a DMX system.

According to Zadneprianski, “Color Kinetics’ LED-based systems provide excellent color rendition, endless flexibility, and the possibility to create specific moods if desired.”