Following the IRA bombing of the centre in 1996 and subsequent redevelopment and refurbishment, a three phase extension and rebuilding programme was started in 2003. The first phase of the northern extension – Exchange Court, opened on 24 October 2005 and houses the world’s largest Next store. This was followed by the second phase – New Cannon Street which opened on the 6th April 2006 and includes a new flagship branch of TopShop and Topman. The third and final phase – The Winter Garden opened on the 7th September 2006, completing what is Europe’s largest city centre shopping mall.
Our Contribution
Working with the Centre architects – Chapman Taylor, we were engaged by the centre owners, PruPIM and Capital Shopping Centres in April 2005 to provide 13 “infoPODs”, 8 Plasma screen mounted on bridges and bulkheads and technical support throughout the 3 phases of the extension programme.
The infoPOD’s, later to be nicknamed “The Zicon” due to its unique zed shape, have two interactive touch screens cleverly located on each of the angles of the zed providing both a low and a high screen to aid with DDA compliance. The other significant development was the incorporation of the 65 inch Plasma as part of the installation where the content on the screen was tied in to the content on the touch screen as part of the Arndale Centres direct marketing strategy. This led to an almost immediate and unprecedented uptake of the technology that continues to the present day and has bought ‘step function’ benefits to the marketing strategy within the Centre.
Despite the very considerable design challenges of manufacturing what is basically a spring with nearly a quarter of a tonne of screens hanging from the top, we managed to remain true to Chapman Taylor’s original design to the millimetre and all the “Zicons” were delivered and installed on time and on budget.
Manchester Arndale
Following the IRA bombing of the centre in 1996 and subsequent redevelopment and refurbishment, a three phase extension and rebuilding programme was started in 2003. The first phase of the northern extension – Exchange Court, opened on 24 October 2005 and houses the world’s largest Next store. This was followed by the second phase – New Cannon Street which opened on the 6th April 2006 and includes a new flagship branch of TopShop and Topman. The third and final phase – The Winter Garden opened on the 7th September 2006, completing what is Europe’s largest city centre shopping mall.
Our Contribution
Working with the Centre architects – Chapman Taylor, we were engaged by the centre owners, PruPIM and Capital Shopping Centres in April 2005 to provide 13 “infoPODs”, 8 Plasma screen mounted on bridges and bulkheads and technical support throughout the 3 phases of the extension programme.
The infoPOD’s, later to be nicknamed “The Zicon” due to its unique zed shape, have two interactive touch screens cleverly located on each of the angles of the zed providing both a low and a high screen to aid with DDA compliance. The other significant development was the incorporation of the 65 inch Plasma as part of the installation where the content on the screen was tied in to the content on the touch screen as part of the Arndale Centres direct marketing strategy. This led to an almost immediate and unprecedented uptake of the technology that continues to the present day and has bought ‘step function’ benefits to the marketing strategy within the Centre.
Despite the very considerable design challenges of manufacturing what is basically a spring with nearly a quarter of a tonne of screens hanging from the top, we managed to remain true to Chapman Taylor’s original design to the millimetre and all the “Zicons” were delivered and installed on time and on budget.
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