Horst Design International creates 4,000 s/f marine environment for for Lakeland Boatworks showroom in Syracuse

Lakeland Boatworks recently unveiled its unique luxury showroom in downtown Syracuse created by Horst Design International (HDI), an architectural design firm based in Cold Spring Harbor, L.I., to showcase their classic handcrafted wood composite powerboats and marine accessories. Joe Rahn, president of Lakeland Boatworks, Inc. noted that the HDI team headed by Doug Horst developed a "spectacular visual effect" that maintains his company's quality, upscale image. Transforming a vacant 4,000 s/f bank lobby into a luxury dry land marina style retail environment, HDI created an abstract nautical theme in the interior. It features a special platform in the center of the space using an underlit, frosted blue/green resin glass that gives visitors the illusion that they are standing on a dock while they view the classically designed mahogany boats floating on water. "Over the central display, wavelike / curved sea foam green panels radiate from the centerpoint in an arc formation and reflect the indirect lighting onto the handcrafted boats below," said Horst. "The exciting interior has definitely contributed to building in store traffic, which will mean maximized sales," says Rahn. "The boat platform, motor stand and central glass fixture have provided a "buzz" in Syracuse because no on had ever seen anything like it. Add to that our downtown location, and people were talking about it for months before it opened."