Last week, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) announced the winners of the 2013 ICSC Canadian Shopping Centre Awards during an awards ceremony at ICSC’s Canadian Convention in Toronto. As part of this exclusive shopping- centre awards competition, three projects by Montreal-based Ruscio Studio were each awarded a 2013 Maple Leaf Silver Award. They are National Bank of Canada located in Toronto; Uniprix located in St-Constant, Quebec; and Urban Trail located in Winnipeg.
The 2013 ICSC Canadian Shopping Centre Awards competition is designed to recognize outstanding achievements in marketing, design and development of retail properties and retail store design. Entries within the design and development category are recognized for outstanding design qualities and creativity in development, through renovation or expansion of an existing property or in the innovative design of a new retail project.
NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA
The National Bank of Canada wanted to reinvent its conventional concept into a place where the customer could freely linger and informally obtain information. The flagship project was an instant success and the response to the new store was so overwhelming that the Bank has geared up for a national roll out to apply the new concept to its other branches.
UNIPRIX
Uniprix, a Quebec pharmacy chain founded by a group of independent pharmacists in 1977, needed a makeover that would stay true to the Uniprix image consumers have come to embrace, all the while creating a unique contemporary voice for the brand. The new store concept sparked a remarkable increase in sales and a national roll-out plan is underway.
URBAN TRAIL
Urban Trail is a retailer that specializes in outdoor clothes and garments. With plans to expand to the Western provinces, it needed to revise its basic design to make the store more appealing to mall landlords and more inviting to shoppers. The revised concept modernized the general look of the store, allowed flexibility for the retailer, showcased the renowned brands, and made the whole space more organized and easier to browse for the client. The new design was a success beyond its original scope and besides the significant increase in sales, leasing offers began to appear in prime locations.
ABOUT ICSC
Founded in 1957, ICSC is the premier global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 55,000 members in over 90 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, retailers and brokers, as well as academics and public officials. As the global industry trade association, ICSC links with more than 25 national and regional shopping center councils throughout the world. For more information, icsc.org
ABOUT RUSCIO STUDIO
Established in 2002, Ruscio Studio is a commercial interior design firm specializing in retail projects including boutiques, flagships, kiosks, big box stores and shopping centers. Featured in regional and national publications, and winner of numerous local and international awards, Ruscio Studio has garnered the reputation as a leader in the retail design industry. For more information, visit rusciostudio.com