2010 Best Retail AV Project
AV Consultant • RTKL Associates
Candy-maker Just Born opened its flagship Peeps & Company store at National Harbor, Md., in December 2009. As the folks at RTKL Associates, who designed the AV and lighting systems, describe it, the store is “an example of the latest trend in brand-focused retailing.” All the systems—eight digital signage displays, an interactive wall thermometer that gauges the “heat index” of Hot Tamales candy lovers, multichromatic LED lighting on the ceiling, music, sound effects, and video—were selected to bring candy products to life in an integrated sensory experience.
RTKL’s Special Systems Design Group built a custom e:Cue media engine to pull together lighting, audio, and video systems throughout the store. Through custom coding, the e:Cue engine takes audio from the digital signage system and creates a sound-to-light effect in which audio activates a color scheme and patterns based on individual music frequencies. e:Cue, lighting controls, and the digital signage system all ride the Just Born network. Content and control are handled from a remote location so local store managers can focus on customers.






















