Best Projects
Specialty Construction, Award of Merit: Meow Wolf Omega Mart
Photo courtesy of Meow Wolf
Meow Wolf Omega Mart
Las Vegas, Nevada
Award of Merit
OWNER: Meow Wolf
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Martin-Harris Construction
DEVELOPER: AOA
LEAD DESIGN FIRM: MOSER architecture studio LLC
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Martin-Harris Construction
DESIGN ASSIST, ROCKWORK, SPECIALTY FINISHES, CUSTOM PRODUCTS, ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENTATION: KHS&S Contractors
This 52,000-sq-ft interactive art installation in the Area15 complex in Las Vegas is an experience in imagination and immersive storytelling through artwork, lighting effects and high-tech staging as visitors explore a supermarket that guides them into surreal worlds and unexpected landscapes.
For arts company Meow Wolf’s second permanent installation, the Las Vegas office of KHS&S provided framing and finishes as well as theming and rockwork services and installed owner-supplied art pieces.
Many of the exhibits are disguised as secret passageways transporting visitors from one experience to another. Guests find their way into a desert either through the dream jungle or any number of secret corridors, and adjacent to the desert they will discover a multi-level factory with slides, catwalks and functional art pieces.
Related link: ENR Southwest Best Projects 2021
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One installation features psychedelic lights projected onto KHS&S-installed rockwork painted to look like cotton candy. The mix of sound, lighting and art pieces throughout Meow Wolf means each visit will be different.
To overcome a demanding schedule, KHS&S worked with the contractor, owner and trades via daily pull-planning sessions. Omega Mart features the contributions from more than 300 artists and artist groups, both local and international. KHS&S worked alongside the general contractor and one-on-one with Meow Wolf artists to suggest constructibility options for the various exhibits while keeping the unique vision for each installation intact.
