Belgium-based visualization specialist Barco has announced that it has signed its largest contract ever for a fully integrated, LED digital signage solution. The contract with Emaar, developer of the world's largest shopping mall located in Dubai, is worth over 24 million euro. The LED displays will be used both to inform and entertain visitors of the Dubai Mall. The Mall will officially be opened in September 2007. Deliveries for the installation will take place in 2007.
The contract for Dubai Mall includes a total of 571 square meters of LED to fulfill Emaar's objective to implement and operate a unique cutting-edge multimedia platform. The Dubai Mall will host over 1200 outlets, spanning in excess of 336,000 square meters of retail space, and will also include an impressive array of leisure pursuits, including a world-class aquarium, fashion show arena, and Olympic-size ice ring.
The visual installation of the LED displays in the Dubai Mall has already begun. It consists of many different applications under one roof, from an ice skating rink to a catwalk. Within each of the different areas, the displays are easily adaptable to a variety of different communications, including advertising, information announcements, and entertainment. Upon entering the Mall, visitors will be immediately drawn by the ten digital banners along the Grand Drive. The banners are made up of Barco's OLITE 612 LED tiles and will be 10 meters square each.
The Fashion Catwalk will feature a total of five separate rings of OLITE 510 LED displays will embrace a central structure. The mechanically powered rings will be able to move independently of each other to form eye-catching, unusual configurations. In addition to the rings, eight separate curved columns of ILITE 6XP tiles, each measuring 2 square meters, will enhance the focus and entertainment value of the area. The indoor skating rink will be an attraction in its own right, with an LED display totaling 200 square meters. This giant display will feature Barco's ILITE 12 LED tiles and will project latest news and information, as well as advertisements from the Mall.
Stephan Paridaen, President of Barco's Media and Entertainment division states, "The Dubai Mall is undoubtedly a major milestone in the company's long history of offering professional visualization. To have Emaar among our customers and to be associated with this world-class project at the most prestigious square kilometer in the world is a real breakthrough in the fast-growing Middle East market for creative visualization."
