By Marshall Okin, Art Etc, Director of Art and Operations
At Art Etc, we pride ourselves on our ability to transform commercial spaces into vibrant, engaging environments through our custom decor, art consultation, and mural design services. A few years ago, we had the opportunity to work on an exciting project creating for Equity Office, owned by Black Stone Real Estate, at 45 Pine Street in their 44 Wall Street building in New York City. As their primary vendor for custom decor production and experiential marketing, we were tasked with filling a vacant retail space with branded murals for real estate marketing, painted canvases, lettering, and graphic art printed on canvas.
The Project Overview
Our mission for this project was to create a visually stunning space that showcased the building's value as prime real estate and promoted the potential leasing opportunities for prospective retailers. The project included:
Branded murals that aligned with the property's brand guidelines.
Painted canvases featuring the property logo and other artistic elements.
Hand-painted lettering stylized font specified by branding.
Graphic art on canvas that included informative marketing graphics, area maps, and a 3D digital rendering of potential renovations.
The Creative Process
Our design process always begins with a meeting with the client to discuss their needs and vision. Typically, we offer three rounds of design concepts, each consisting of three unique ideas, followed by three rounds of revisions to finalize the design. In this case, the client was impressed with our initial concepts, and the final design was nailed down after just one round of revisions.
Once the design was approved, we moved into the production phase, which took approximately two weeks, followed by an installation period of 1-5 days, depending on the hours available at the location. The pace of projects like these are largely determined by the efficiency of the client's internal approval process.
Design Proposals - View full project gallery
Execution and Challenges
Working in commercial spaces in Manhattan presents unique challenges, and this project was no exception. Some of the key challenges included:
Logistics in NYC: Navigating the complexities of transporting materials and equipment in downtown Manhattan.
40-foot ceilings: Requiring the use of aerial equipment by our certified operators to complete the installation.
Large canvases: Designed to be constructed on-site due to the limitations of service elevators and doorways.
Tight deadlines: Ensuring a fast pace of design and production to meet the project's schedule.
Brand consistency: Creating custom artwork that adhered to the client's brand style.
Despite these challenges, our experience and expertise in handling large-scale projects in commercial buildings made the process smooth and efficient. EQ Office was a pleasure to work with, and their cooperation greatly contributed to the project's success.
Unique challenges at scale - View full project gallery
The Artistic Impact
The murals and artwork we created for 45 Pine Street highlighted the building’s unique offerings and potential. The graffiti-style murals, combined with chalkboard textures and vibrant colors, create a dynamic and engaging environment. The hand-painted lettering and high-quality canvas paintings add a touch of sophistication, while the printed graphics provide essential information about the location and its potential.
Client Feedback and Project Outcome
Feedback from Equity Office and other stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive. The branded murals and artistic elements not only enhance the space aesthetically but also effectively communicate the value of the property to potential tenants. This project demonstrates how art can be a powerful tool in real estate marketing, transforming vacant spaces into vibrant showcases of potential.
Transform Your Space with Art Etc
If you're interested in how Art Etc can transform your commercial space, please email me at marshall@artetcnj.com or fill out a request for a quote form on our website here: (Request a Quote).
We also invite you to follow our journey on Instagram at instagram.com/artetcny to see more of our projects and artistic endeavors. Additionally, I am excited to announce a new creative project management business, "MADE," which I am launching this year with my business partner Rebecca Pry. You can preview our upcoming projects at instagram.com/designedbymade.
Thank you for reading, and we look forward to bringing more spaces to life with our art.
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