Electrosonic’s Summit One Vanderbilt Wins Top Honors for Blooloop Innovation Awards

Electrosonic is thrilled to announce that the Blooloop Innovation Awards awarded Summit One Vanderbilt, Best in Show along with the Immersive Experience of the Year. Both awards demonstrate the powerful and magical experience of this multi-sensory, immersive attraction. Summit One features a 65,000-square-foot observation deck that ties in experiential audiovisual (AV) technology, delivering one of the most exciting themed entertainment installations in all of New York City.

About the Blooloop Innovation Awards

The Blooloop Innovation Awards showcase the spirit of innovation and resiliency of the attractions market. Blooloop.com hosts the awards and is the most-read website for visitor attraction professionals.

They recognize the best in visitor experiences despite the industry's challenges since the pandemic. The contest received entries from all over the world, with many exceptional experiences documenting what the most brilliant minds in visitor attractions built and created. 

Judges determine the winners for multiple categories, including the Immersive Experience of the Year. The Best in Show award is determined by public vote. Achieving this recognition is extremely exciting, as Summit One and immersive attractions focus on the visitor’s experience.

Summit One Vanderbilt: A Celebration of Immersion and Innovation

Any view from an observation deck in New York City is spectacular. The objective of the building owners SL Green was to expand on this and truly give guests a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Their perspective was to create something distinct that would keep visitors coming back. 

Collaboration and Ingenuity Were the Foundation for the Project

SL Green collaborated with experiential designers Kenzo Digital to concept the interactive and immersive exhibits, which include 26 spaces over four levels. The initial design was ambitious, requiring specialized AV expertise, which Electrosonic was able to facilitate.

Electrosonic’s expertise as an AV technology partner and integrator enabled all the creative innovation to become a reality. Also supporting the project were AV designers JB&B, architects Snohetta, lighting integrators Barbizon, general contractors AECOM Tishman and technology advisors Tad. 

The stakeholders took the right path for the project, with Electrosonic being part of the conversation at the start, influencing the design to achieve the desired results. Throughout the project’s development, Electrosonic was responsible for the engineering, procurement, installation, commissioning, programming and testing of all AV components. These included the audio system, LED displays, AV and lighting control systems and experiential technology. There are 16 LED displays, three video walls, 24/7 speakers and subwoofers, four audio controllers, 14 video controllers and 11 racks. 

Tight Timelines and Spaces Deliver More Challenges

Such a project required many hours of work and dedication, and those responsible had a tight window of time leading to the unveiling on October 21, 2021. In one year, they needed to pull off this massive installation, collaborating with more than 30 trades, managing changing schedules and dealing with the impact of Covid-19. What makes this even more difficult is that it sat 90 floors high and required negotiation of tricky spaces. 

The Finished Experience Is Mesmerizing and Innovative

Summit One Vanderbilt set out to be more than a view. It combines audio, lighting effects, video and interactivity. The main attractions include:

• A 180-degree theater pre-show
• A guest queue with digital signage and custom facial scanners coupled with QR-enabled wristbands
• The Hall of Light, with synchronized audio and lights, leading to the elevators
• Transcendence, a story-driven, multi-sensory room with infinity mirrors from floor to ceiling
• Unity, where visitors scan their wristbands, placing their face’s image into the “clouds” created by a 50-foot-long 1.2mm Samsung MicroLED

The final result is much more than an observation deck; it’s a celebration of the city and a new way for visitors and residents to connect to it. blooloop noted that the evidence of innovation of Summit One was found throughout, from enhancing the view of the city to personalizing experiences to generating anticipation. Immersion happens from the moment guests arrive, unlike any other skyscraper in the city or world. 

Electrosonic congratulates all those involved with the project and the team who brought the experience to millions of visitors.