Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006, 10:30–11:30 A.M.
Jacob J. Javits Convention Center, New York

The Department Store Dilemma: What’s Next?
Epicenter—A New Vision for Active and Interactive Retail

Today’s merchants must find new avenues for growth, keep costs under control, and project their brand. They need a new way to retail that meets both the needs of consumers and the realities of business. The Epicenter Collection, a retailing revolution, has created a new template for the shopping experience. By combining the technology and convenience of online and catalog shopping with superb store retailing, it allows a unique community of merchants to sell their products in an innovative way. It enables merchants to create their own retailing spaces within Epicenter’s striking architectural framework and keep start-up costs low.

Speaker: Jay Valgora
Design Principal, Studio V Architecture

Renowned architect/urban designer Jay Valgora weds an organization’s culture with its physical environment. His new firm, Studio V Architecture, is creating projects such as a “green” retail center with a retractable roof in Montreal, a 103-ft. contemporary yacht, and an urban master plan for Long Island City. His career includes high-profile projects during stints with Walker Group, Rockwell Group, and Koetter Kim & Associates. Among the honors earned for his cutting-edge work are the American Institute of Architects National Award, the BusinessWeek Design Award, the Interiors Award, and the Architectural Record Award. Valgora earned a master of architecture from Harvard University and a bachelor of architecture from Cornell University.