The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) in keeping with its long standing tradition of recognizing and honoring the shopping centre industry’s most cutting-edge, innovative solutions, and creative responses to market trends, as well as outstanding examples of retail store design has announced its winners for the 2011 Canadian Shopping Centre Global Awards program. As part of this exclusive shopping centre awards competition, ICSC is pleased to announce two wins for Montreal-based Ruscio Studio Inc. – for Verona Vibe, located in Les Galeries de Hull, Gatineau, Québec; and for Ainsi Soit-Elle, located in Galeries St-Hyacinthe, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec. (See below for information about both projects.)
ICSC announced the winners of the 2011 Canadian Shopping Centre Awards during a ceremony at ICSC’s Canadian Convention in Toronto, Ontario. All 2011 Maple Leaf Gold winners are automatically eligible to win ICSC’s Best-of-the-Best VIVA Award. The ICSC Best-of-the-Best VIVA Awards, which recognize the shopping centre industry’s most cutting-edge properties, innovative solutions and creative responses to market trends, throughout the world, will be presented during ICSC’s annual convention, RECon, May 20-22, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 2011 Canadian Shopping Centre Awards are designed to recognize outstanding achievement in marketing, design and development of retail properties and retail store design and was open to shopping centre owners, developers, management companies, architects and designers, and retailers. Awards were given to shopping centres that are less than 150,000 square feet of total retail space; between 150,001 and 400,000 sq. ft. of total retail space; between 400,001 and 750,000 sq. ft. of total retail space; between 750,001 and 1,000,000 sq. ft. of total retail space; more than 1,000,000 sq. ft. of total retail space; a company/corporate initiative, joint centre effort; and mixed use project. For complete details on this and the other winners, visit ICSC’s global awards web gallery at www.icsc.org/canadianawards.
1. VERONA VIBE
Verona Vibe, located in Les Galeries de Hull, Gatineau, Québec, has been awarded a 2011 Maple Leaf Silver Award. It won in the Retail Store Design category, which recognizes how professional store design contributes to the success of the retail industry. Verona Vibe (aka Verona Shoes), a Québec retailer specializing in fashion footwear for women, completely re-designed itself prior to expanding into a prime centre location. By using the bold colour of red on the floors, ceilings, and walls, Verona Vibe immediately set itself apart from all others. The new design conveys a sense of fashion, value, passion, and and instantly redefines the store brand.
Professional recognition for Verona Vibe was given to Chaussures Verona, company; Ruscio Studio Inc., designers, and SAMRO, general contractors.
2. AINSI SOIT-ELLE
Professional recognition for Ainsi Soit-Elle was given to Ruscio Studio Inc., designers and Navedco Construction, general contractors.