Focus Lighting worked with Ilya Corporation in Tokyo and Mikimoto to design the lighting for the Mikimoto store inside the Crystals retail and dining district at CityCenter Las Vegas. Mikimoto asked Focus Lighting to implement the retailer's deep blue sea design concept while adhering to the strict energy restrictions within the LEED Gold certified complex.
In collaboration with the designers, Focus Lighting sought to create a space that suggested the natural environment where the famous Mikimoto pearls are formed. One of the challenges was to find a way to attract the attention of potential customers and make Mikimoto stand out from among the many eye-catching window displays in the retail district.
The designers of Ilya Corporation and Focus Lighting designed a window display of sheer silver curtains illuminated with Color Kinetics ColorGraze Powercore linear LED luminaires (now specified with
ColorGraze IntelliHue Powercore). These luminaires were programmed to project shades of blue that symbolize the color of the sea. Four tall laminated glass mermaid torsos provided a glowing surface on which to showcase the jewelry. Focus Lighting tested multiple lighting treatments and sources to determine the best luminaire outputs and beam spreads for showcasing the merchandise. The construction of the torsos—multiple layers of laminated, carved, and frosted glass—posed a problem. The laminated layers scattered the light from the luminaires, resulting in a rainbow effect instead of a uniform mix of colors. Focus Lighting eliminated the unwanted effects by increasing the distance between the luminaires and the glass and using high-output iColor Cove MX Powercore linear LED luminaires from Color Kinetics (now specified as PureStyle Compact Powercore, IntelliHue).
In the end, the store's merchandise was showcased with eco-friendly light sources that achieved the deep blue sea concept while adhering to the building's strict energy requirements. In addition, the RGB LED luminaires allow store management to change the color of the displays for holiday presentations and special events.
