Aztec completes work on Perricone lifestyle center.

The Aztec Corporation recently completed an elegant space design for N.V. Perricone M.D.'s flagship lifestyle center at 791 Madison Avenue in New York City. The store held its grand opening this summer at its new home, which is situated in the heart of Manhattan's prestigious Madison Avenue shopping district.

Dr. Nicholas Perricone is widely-recognized as one of the world's preeminent, anti-aging experts, and this new store allows consumers to experience an environment for interactive learning and discovery, which appeals to people who are interested in leading longer, healthier lives.

Dorothy Zarnik, principal, Susan Baumann, director and Scott Marchio, director, led the sophisticated design of this two-story corner space along with Michigan-based designers, Facility Matrix Group (FMG).

"We worked to create an environment that embraces the principles of healthy living and could serve as the ideal backdrop for Dr. Perricone's philosophy and products," said Dorothy Zarnik, partner, Aztec Architects, Inc. "More than just a retail store, the N.V. Perricone M.D. flagship combines high-tech tools and a streamlined design to evoke a sense of warmth, authority and vibrancy.

We are extremely proud to have completed such a distinctive and elegant environment for this prestigious company."

The N.V. Perricone flagship store incorporates large pale green Italian porcelain tiles, which give the illusion of stone floors and walls and a soft celadon carpeting and rich African Obechi wood veneer, which is dominated by a backlit frosted-glass product display wall on each floor.

The entrance of the store displays a luxurious maroon leather wall, which leads to stone stairs, outlined by glass railings opening to the mezzanine lounge and library level of the store. The design also incorporates a sophisticated audio-visual system, which features individual speakers for each of the three plasma screens, allowing multiple presentations throughout the store simultaneously.

The store's oversized windows are a source of abundant natural light, while subdued lighting spotlights product displays. Aztec used intricate millwork designs to create a comfortable environment for salespeople and guests. Elliptical dark wood product display islands with etched glass tops are enhanced with caramel-toned terrazzo to encourage interaction, conversation and easy circulation.

Regarded as the "Father of the Inflammation Theory of Aging," Dr. Nicholas Perricone is a board certified clinical and research dermatologist and an adjunct professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. He is the author of three New York Times best-sellers: The Perricone Promise (2004), The Perricone Prescription, A Physician's 28 Day Program for Total Body and Face Rejuvenation (2002) and The Wrinkle Cure (1998). Dr. Perricone holds numerous U.S. and international patents for the treatment and prevention of damage to the skin. The N.V. Perricone M.D. Cosmeceutical line was launched in 1998 and is available at Nordstrom, Sephora, Henri Bendel, Clydes, select Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue stores and at www.nvperriconemd.com.

The Aztec Corporation, along with Aztec Architects, P.C., celebrating its eleventh year as an industry leader and pioneer, is one of the most innovative Facility Planning, Design and Consulting Companies in the industry. Aztec offers its prestigious clients the "Total Architecture[TM]" concept which features an integrated array of comprehensive services including Interior Architectural Design, Base Building Architecture, Complete Project Management, Facility Master Planning, Relocation Execution Management, On-Going Facility Management, Facility Asset Planning and Interactive Multi-Media Design. The Aztec philosophy for facility planning is centered on creating a solid business approach to each facility that matches its clients' short and long term business plans and objectives.