10.10.11 | Selected to create a contemporary retail interior that would draw traffic and appeal to a multitude of affluent consumers, Pappas Design Studio was retained to redesign the Mall Champlain in Brossard, Quebec. The mall, which greets more than 7 million customers annually, is owned by Ivanhoe Cambridge, a preeminent Montreal, Canadian-based global property owner, manager, developer and investor, focusing on high-quality shopping centers in urban areas since the 1950s.

Pappas Design of Montreal, Canada was in-charge of the complete renovation of the mall including the gutting, remodeling, and complete rebuild and renovation of all of its public spaces including the main mall areas, food courts and washrooms. The entire space encompasses approximately 111,000 square feet.

According to Bess Pappas, Principal of Pappas Design Studio, "Our firm was assigned to revitalize the space and create a fresh new look current with today's retail trends, to compete with other centers in regions. We developed a clean, fashion-oriented look that is both contemporary and timeless, with a black, white and cream-colored scheme. Delivering a very neutral fashion boutique approach rather than a typical mall look, we wanted to differentiate Mail Champlain from the competition. Our objective was to motivate fashion-oriented retailers to join the mall and add an upscale look of sophistication that retains current tenants and customers but attracts bright new faces and new tenants."

Pappas Design chose Meyda and its array of lighting designers, engineers and artisans to create a spectacular lighting fixture inspired by another Meyda Custom Lighting fixture, which was originally created for Yves St. Laurent, a high-end clothing store in Miami.

According to Bess Pappas, "The new fixture, which evolved over eight months, evokes a timeless classic look that will endure for more than two decades. Designed to add large-scale fashion, sophistication and volume to the expansive ceiling in the mall, this 8,000-pound fixture was engineered and crafted with a clean, elegant two-tier design featuring 2300 one-inch square solid acrylic lighting rods that suspend at heights ranging from 3 to 4 feet." The massive oblong ceiling fixture spans 330 inches or 27.5 feet in length.

The high ceilings presented a great challenge. "After demolishing the vaulted ceiling," Ms. Pappas continued, "We added 15 skylights will natural day lighting. The Meyda fixture is featured as the centerpiece of the center court where volume was needed for the big space while creating fashion and sophistication. The two-tier luminaire is designed with a series of rectangles square solid acrylic rods, which deploy light at the base of the rods. The fixture was used to punch up the colors of furniture and accessories inside.

"Weighing four tons," Ms. Pappas continued, "The remarkably designed and engineered fixture required structural engineers to oversee a special installation requiring proper bracing, recessing and bolting into the ceiling line to fill a void from the ceiling line to the roof. The installers had to work around large trusses with this large fixture which has a total depth of 198 inches (or 16.6 feet)."

Equally enduring are Meyda fixture's energy efficient LEDs consuming just 1500 watts which deliver a lumen output equivalent to standard incandescents that consume over 9,000 watts of power! Energy efficiency at its best.

The luminaries deploy ambient light from the base of the rods to create a mood of sophistication while punching up the color of decorative accents and accessories installed throughout the food court. The innovative LED technology saves energy as well as reducing maintenance costs associated with relamping the bulbs. Each LED (light emitting diode) offers the latest state-of-the-art LED technology and has a potential life of 50,000 or more hours.

When the Meyda lighting fixture powers up, the fixture draws only 1000 watts. For ease and convenience of the installation, the chandelier was pre-assembled on the ground with all identifiable components. "My guys told me it was quite simple to assemble," added Ms. Pappas.

Prior to this project, the mall had very low lighting levels and limited skylights in the courts. The mall had a vaulted ceiling painted like the sky at The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, with lighting that produced just 10-15 foot-candles in many areas. The firm specified task lighting fixtures that illuminated the polished porcelain tile floor to reflect more light for a "glam feeling." "We increased the foot-candles to 45-60 and introduced new T8 fluorescent fixtures with 3500K-color temperature to create cove lighting applications," explained Ms. Pappas. "We used metal halide 3500K lighting based on pink cools with mid neutral colors- that was not too yellow or too white and not too cold. We deployed white accent slots with pot lights on tracks, on the floor. Cooper provided metal halide track and general lighting."

Aqua Gallery was tapped for its Nano Collection, featuring hard cardboard and crunched fabric that evoked a mobile effect over the feature bar seating counters in the food court.

Orval Montreal electrical engineer assisted Pappas Design with the lighting and supplied all of the details and lighting calculations that were needed. The architectural firm was Shapiro and Wolfe of Montreal.