The new SLC is NOW open! HOK’s newly designed Salt Lake City Airport is an ode to Utah’s natural beauty. In partnership with Paradies Lagardère, Smart_ are elated to unveil 10 new retail concepts that elevate the passenger experience and celebrate the glorious backdrop of the mountain west. From travel essentials including Trip Advisor, Maverik (2 locations), Deseret News, and CNBC, to beloved retail favourites Liberty Park Market, KSL Bookshop, Hip & Humble, No Boundaries, and Visit Salt Lake, each store embraces the true nature of Salt Lake City.
As sense of place continues to hold significant importance in airport design, it’s imperative that offerings embed distinctive features drawn from local influences. Airports are a key part of the passenger journey; they act as an opportunity to showcase the city and ultimately strengthen guest satisfaction and connection to place.
Every Smart space is designed with the passenger in mind – embedded within our process and strategy are opportunities for operational efficiency, integration of sustainability, planning that promotes equal access and accessibility, cost efficiency and thoughtful and tailored designs. Sense of place is the final layer that pushes the concept that little bit further, enhancing connection of the offering with the region, city or local experience. There are no hard rules for how to design to enhance sense of place – it can manifest in a multitude of ways; at SLC you may find yourself checking out under a tree in Maverik, shopping for SLC’s favourite goods in Hip & Humble, or popping in for a local periodical in Deseret News – SLC’s oldest newspaper
Inspired by SLC’s vibrant Liberty Park neighbourhood, Liberty Park Market offers a modern and light-hearted shopping experience for all of one’s last-minute travel essentials and snacks for their journey. Natural elements contrast with rustic finishes and vibrant graphics to create a playful sense of place that’s reflected in SLC’s artsy and indie streets. The graphic pattern and colour palette harmoniously weave natural elements of Liberty Park to evoke the warm and welcoming nature of the people and area. Organic leaves, stripes, lines, and geometric shapes take inspiration from the park, city scape, and local mural work, and are applied throughout the interior walls, as well as the brick façade.
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Where Liberty Park is a more subtle example, Visit Salt Lake is a clear celebration of the city. The cityscape is stylized and transformed into focal artwork wall of illuminated offset panels showcasing Rocky Mountain vistas, while a poem communicates the bounty and beauty that Utah boasts. All graphics are kept monotone to strengthen brand presence and enforce the natural beauty of the locally sourced materials.
The new shops at SLC truly celebrate all the best of Salt Lake City – highlighting its breathtaking landscape and welcoming people. Honouring and emphasizing the region through colours, materials, and local elements allows the destination to truly shine through and immerses passengers into the feel of the city; and, as the gateway to Utah, the new SLC airport is both the guest’s first impression and the last sweet embrace.