Providing Quality Service Based on Trust, Integrity, and Experience

Matassa Construction was hired as Construction Manager for the construction of Walgreen’s "Flagship Store" at One Times Square, New York, NY. One Times Square is the name of the building in Times Square upon which the famous New Year's Times Square Ball drop is performed annually.

            Project included a significant interior design challenge to enable this Pharmacy to succeed where other retailers had failed. The store planning needed to address the separation of vertical and horizontal circulation of patrons and product through three sales levels. A serpentine animated band of colored light was designed to lead patrons from the southern entries and elevators to the northern escalators, as well as separate eastern suspended ceilings and lighting from western pendant lit exposed ceilings. Six floors above grade and two of the four levels below were substantially gutted with additional work required throughout the tower to upgrade electrical, fire and data systems. The efforts by the construction and design team prepared the building for the proposed interior retail space, exterior signage programs and design statements, each contributing to the immense success of Walgreens at One Times Square.

            The project included coordination and logistics for the structure of the New Year's Eve Ball. The Ball is 12 feet in diameter, covered with a total of 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles that vary in size and range in length from 4 ¾ inches to 5 ¾ inches per side. It is illuminated by 32,256 LEDs (light emitting diodes) and capable of displaying a palette of more than 16 million vibrant colors and billions of patterns that creates a spectacular kaleidoscope effect atop One Times Square. The project also included the largest LED sign in Times Square. Walgreens' 17,000 square foot sign with over 12 million LED’s dwarfs the current largest LED sign in Times Square, the NASDAQ sign on Broadway. The sign runs diagonally up both sides of the building, loops around the front and weighs 250,000 pounds.

The project won the ICSC Gold Award for Retail Store Design for stores in excess of 10,001 sq. ft. The Grand Opening was held on November 20, 2009 as scheduled.

Services Provided: Construction Management / Pre-Construction / Construction Services