IDEAS was engaged in a comprehensive project review, analysis and ongoing creative development project for the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Employee Lifestyle Center. The IDEAS experience design team worked with the lead architect to review the current design and project scope, interview the owner’s representatives and end users, perform a context and audience evaluation, develop critical guest experience drivers and develop conceptual creative recommendations for implementing immersive experience enhancements.
IDEAS’ guest experience review focused on the actual user experience with specific emphasis on attracting new Lifestyle Center users and encouraging regular repeat use of the facility via the integration of environmental and programmatic immersion elements. Specific attention was given to maintenance, design, sound, area dynamics and development, food and beverage, operator/guest interaction, guest relations, employee training, cleanliness, guest engagement and operations.
For the project, IDEAS created an original 8 minute video tool that generated interest in the Lifestyle Center, communicated its vision and design to a broad range of stakeholders and became the principal communication tool for all pre-opening uses from leadership briefing through sponsorship/partnership development. The target audiences included CDC employees, local members of the community with an interest in CDC, press, potential sponsors/partners, fitness, entertainment, engineering, computer industries and other governmental organizations. In tone, the piece was journalistic but is also designed to create excitement and a vivid experience of what the new Lifestyle Center will look and feel like when completed both physically and philosophically.
IDEAS continued to provide ongoing review and oversight of the user experience during the design development of the Lifestyle Center at 65% and 100% schematic design phases and 30% and 65% design development review milestones. At each stage of review, IDEAS met with the architects and CDC’s staff, reviewed the design development progress for Guest Experience factors, and submitted an experience review brief.
During the implementation phase, IDEAS recommended creation of several of the immersion experiences in the center including a 3D Cycling Theater, an immersive Yoga practice environment, soundscaping for the entire Lifestyle area and other programmatic elements.
