Project Overview
The client: Crescent Ridge Corporate Center, a Class A office space in Minnetonka, just west of Minneapolis
Job description: Provide holiday decor for the building’s atrium and lobby
Goals: Create a bright, modern, and wintry aesthetic that harmonized with the building’s extensive natural light and open views of nature
Timeline: Approximately six weeks from contract signing to installation
Key design components:
- 12-foot tall tree with lights and ornaments
- 48-inch wreaths
- 48-inch festive column sprays
Summary
Our client, Cushman & Wakefield, manage Crescent Ridge Corporate Center, a Class A office building set amid natural wetlands in a park-like setting. They came to us to provide holiday decor that would create a bright, wintry atmosphere through the holiday season.
The building has an environmental focus, both in its sustainable architecture (Crescent Ridge is rated LEED Gold) and the way it is situated in its natural environment. The property includes native plant gardens, terraces for relaxation, and walking trails. From the building entrance, visitors have a clear line of sight through the atrium to the expansive green space — or in this case, snowy setting — beyond.
We worked with fabricator partners to supply a variety of holiday decor, including a Christmas tree and wreaths, that created a modern winter wonderland feeling and harmonized with the trees and natural spaces visible outside. The faux plant materials we installed can be used for multiple holiday seasons — and from one year to the next, we store the decor for a seamless installation experience.
Considerations:
- Stability of both the Christmas tree and hung decor
- Fire-safety in materials and lighting
- Integration with clearly visible outdoor setting
Results:
Atrium Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree is a 12-foot faux fir tree with sprays of winter berry, snow-dusted pine needles, eucalyptus, and echeverria that add fullness, textural variation, and visual interest. The tree is ornamented with white and gold balls, white ribbons, and lights for a bright, sophisticated arrangement.
All decor materials in the tree are faux and flame-retardant, which increases their longevity and improves fire safety. LED lights are energy-efficient with the added safety benefit of generating less heat than incandescent bulbs. The tree itself is secured with a wide metal base and system of cables, all hidden within the tree, to ensure structural stability.
Indoor-Outdoor Continuity
The tree is framed by large windows overlooking a wintry expanse. The decorated holiday tree is clearly the focal point and star, while also serving as a visual bridge between the indoors and outdoors.
Column Sprays
The same materials found in the atrium tree are used in vertical columns placed in the elevator lobbies on each floor. Using the same materials adds visual cohesion throughout the open space, while the unique column shape complements the specific architecture of the elevator lobbies. Here, the ribbons form a bow for a festive pop.
Holiday Wreath
A large 48-inch wreath hanging from the second-floor balcony provides a bright, wintry welcome to visitors as soon as they enter the building. The wreath placement also draws the eye forward through the airy space all the way to the Christmas tree in the atrium. Together, the wreath, vertical columns, and Christmas tree create an elegant and festive ambiance from one end of the common space to the other.
We recommend booking holiday decor mid-summer to allow time for any custom design work and fabrication. To work with Plant By Design’s talented team of designers and plant installation and maintenance experts, send us a message or give us a call.
