Elie Tahari
East Hampton, NY
Growing a lifestyle brand
Elie Tahari’s dream of transforming his fashion label into a lifestyle brand gained
impetus with the opening of a 5,000 sq. ft. flagship store in a landmark building in East
Hampton, New York. McCann Systems created the audio visual elements, including a cutting-edge
sound system.
Bouncing off the glass ceiling
The project called for the highest quality, seamless sound coverage throughout the store’s
two levels and basement area. The challenge was how to provide the best sound possible when
surrounded by a two-story atrium with glass walls, glass ceiling and mirrors. Being glass
does not absorb sound, a conventional acoustic installation would produce sound waves that
bounce and echo off the glass surfaces.
Directional speakers even things out
To overcome these effects, McCann’s sound specialists chose not to locate the speakers
throughout the two-story atrium, but rather to place them in a horseshoe arrangement in the
ceiling. Twenty-eight IS52 Tannoy directional speakers, designed for installation under a
staircase, were modified to fit in the ceiling. Each was strategically positioned to fire
over a specific, limited area, assuring sound was evenly placed throughout the store. In
addition, we placed sub-woofers, with tiny 3” inch grills, in the walls. Customer-conscious,
the designers insisted on a Touch Screen Control on each floor to manage the sound. Each
control features a courtesy button allowing the volume to be lowered. A preset automatically
brings the sound back up at a later time. In the VIP area, flat panel screens, DVDs and the
latest gaming systems relax shoppers during a break.
A sound shopping experience
The result is “fashiontainment” where audio and video stimulate the senses and meld with the shopping experience. At Tahari, the sound is a high energy, techno mix that deliver an eclectic combination of feel-good club music throughout the store.
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