NBCUniversal Parks and Resorts with Universal Studios Consumer Products | Exploration of possible family entertainment center concepts that might work with available film, television, and music brands under management at Universal Studios.
Initial conceptual sketches of a 2-level family entertainment center concept.
Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation | Strategic marketing and promotions audit of Xscape family entertainment center at Lafayette Square Mall (Indianapolis). The work was an effort to salvage a difficult run for the venue. Xscape (owned by Zoom Entertainment LLC) opened in 2008. After a troubled operating history, a guest injury, and issues with its permits, Xcape was closed. America’s Incredible Pizza took over the space in 2010.
Lafayette Square Mall was a failing mall, having lost significant tenancies and market following the opening of Circle Centre Mall (1995). Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation purchased the mall from Simon Property Group in late 2007, with the intent of repurposing its business. Both Sears and Macy’s would exit their tenancies at the shopping center in early 2009.
Henderson Land Development, in joint venture with Seagram / Universal Studios, Inc. | Created as part of the Universal Studios Experience in Beijing, the Starmaker store was designed and operated as a highly experiential image capture business.
Guests were offered a gallery of Universal Studios film, television, music, and video game imagery to pose within. The guest experience also included a Wardrobe Dept. for guests to get more into the spirit of their poses, as well as operator-cued special-effects and sound equipment to highlight the posing process.
A guest choosing a Jurassic Park scene to pose in, would hear the T-Rex roar just as their picture was captured – creating not only a more memorable pose but a more memorable experience while in the venue.
Henderson Land Development; Universal Studios Recreation Group; Seagram | Designed to bring a taste of America – in this case, California, the venue was created for Universal Studios Experience Beijing.
A business plan and operating strategy was devised for integration of Seagram’s Tropicana unit in the venue’s operation. At the time, the Tropicana unit was seeking major investment opportunities and strategic initatives in establishing greater inroads for its China in-country presence.
Club California’s design was intended to augment the “taste of America” menu approach, with California surfboards, wood paneling vaneers reminiscent of Woody automobiles, and fixtures of the period to set a mood. The venue also featured Channel Surf, one of several dedicated channel’s on Universal Studios’ U-Link private commercial network.
Tollin/Robbins Productions | AEC’s predecessor company provided launch PR during the initial launch of Slamball in the U.S. Slamball is a form of basketball played with four trampolines in front of each net and boards around the court edge.