POP PROTOTYPE
Tower RECORDS
For the experimentalists
DAVIS, CALIFORNIA / 1995
Tower Records’ global brand spanned 18 countries at its peak. However, its beginnings as a local Sacramento drugstore and its history of experimentation inspired this commission: a vanguard prototype of a hyper-local, small-footprint Tower Records store.
To highlight the company’s attitude of evolution and experimentation and to let its independent spirit shine, I used vibrant finishes and inexpensive raw industrial materials in unexpected ways to create an electric atmosphere with an energetic, rough-around-the-edges feel, perfect for hanging out. Copper clads the façade, bringing a sheen and brilliance to the downtown streetscape. An oversized Tower Records sign reflects the brand’s outsized presence.
PROJECT SIZE
2,600 square feet
MATERIALS
Existing retail storefront
Inexpensive, durable, Industrial materials
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Model STORE
Tower Records International Management Convention
I exposed the ceiling and skylight structures inside the space by removing the existing T-bar ceiling, dramatically adding height and light. Intricate rows of industrial lighting show off the supporting beams and red-painted recesses. The existing floor’s concrete slab was uncovered, cleaned, and dyed for a loft-inspired urban feel.
The finishes form the backdrop to the store’s cultural heart, rows and rows of CD, book, and magazine racks that fully occupy the existing rectangular plan. New oriented strand board (OSB) racks celebrate Tower Record’s access to the zeitgeist through thousands of curated titles: browsing and discovery at your fingertips.
