Skyline News
Skyline Exhibits Designer Wins 'Green Central' Terminal Competition
NEW YORK (March 13, 2009) -- A pair of Skyline Exhibits team members have been named the winners of the Grand Central Terminal Holiday Fair Design Competition, a high-profile contest to promote green design and manufacturing for retail environments. A jury of world-renowned designers and architects awarded Nate Nelson and David Hughes first prize over a large field that included architectural firms and design firms. Nelson, an exhibit designer who champions sustainability in Skyline's International Design Center, St. Paul, Minn., designed the winning modular retail system for the annual Holiday and Spring gift fairs in Grand Central's landmark gateway, Vanderbilt Hall. Hughes, account executive with Skyline Genesis Event Marketing, New York, recognized an opportunity when the competition was announced in March 2008 and collaborated with Skyline's corporate design group, which specializes in large and complex exhibits."Nate Nelson wowed the judges with his design," said Karen Weber, Marketing Director for Jones Lang LaSalle, which manages retail operations for Grand Central Terminal. "He fully incorporated the principals of sustainable design. His plan also incorporated the principals of retail success through design excellence, innovation and social consciousness." Nelson maximized visibility for 76 artisan vendors with angled stalls and a dark brown background to set off merchandise while encouraging shoppers to explore a meandering layout with tall arches and simulated decorative carvings that reflect the surrounding architecture. "I wanted it to be more like a department store than a flea market," he joked. The green attributes of Nelson's design begin with a Skyline modular system, featuring an aluminum framework for durability, the flexibility to reconfigure in different layouts and replace surfaces for new looks, a second life as refurbished Skyline rental inventory, and a future as a recycled resource. A consultant on green materials for Target Corporation, Nike and other companies before joining Skyline, Nelson called for a variety of recycled and recyclable surface materials, such as panels made from compressed straw, counters made from recycled paper fiber, and recyclable plastic mobiles set in motion by ambient breezes. "I'm ecstatic to have my work selected by such a highly respected group of judges," Nelson said. "And I'm thrilled that there are competitions like this to encourage sustainable design." The design competition was part of the "Green Central" initiative to improve tenant design, construction and operations of the historic train station. Vanderbilt Hall, originally designed as a waiting room for train passengers, was restored in 1992 as an exhibition and special events venue. Further restoration will incorporate energy-efficient building systems. A tradition for New Yorkers and tourists, the gift fairs boost traffic at Grand Central beyond the daily average of 700,000 visitors. "We're proud of Nate's work and the fact that Skyline's strengths align with sustainability," said Mike Vekich, President of Skyline Exhibits. "In addition to offering great design, we can create green solutions with our lightweight systems. The beauty of innovative engineering is that it results in less material, less weight, more compact containers, more efficient shipping, longer product life and less waste--all of which reduce the total carbon footprint for exhibitors." The design competition was sponsored by the Metropolitan Transportation Agency, the owner of Grand Central Terminal and the nation's largest provider of public transportation; Jones Lang LaSalle, an international real estate money management and services firm; and the New York Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, creators of the standard for green building in North America. Skyline Exhibits is North America's leading brand of exhibit systems. Known for high-quality manufacturing, cost-saving portability, innovative functionality, creative design and exhibitor education, Skyline has nearly 100 Design Centers in North America and representation in 38 countries. The company manufactures a broad range of products for trade shows and events--from banner stands and pop-up displays to large custom modular exhibits. With 20 integrated exhibit systems, state-of-the-art production of large-format graphics and options for exhibit rental and services, Skyline provides exhibit solutions for virtually any size or budget. |
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