New Digs Underway: Groundbreaking ceremony for Ewing Automotive Group

June 10, 2014 Wes Phelan

At Banowetz + Company, we strive to build long-lasting relationships with our clients. That’s why it’s an exceptional privilege to have worked with the family-owned Ewing Automotive Group and its owner/president, Fin Ewing III, for over twenty years. We were especially honored to be a part of their most recent milestone — the groundbreaking for their new state-of-the-art facilities in Plano.

Family Affair: Fin Ewing breaks ground with son Finley, mom Gail, and wife Beth at the groundbreaking ceremony.

A crowd of family, friends, and partners to witness the growth of  a North Texas staple. — A crowd of family, friends, and partners to witness the growth of a North Texas staple.

On the morning of Friday, May 30, Plano Mayor Pro Tem Lissa Smith and other community leaders joined Mr. Ewing, his family and representatives from Mercedes-Benz of Plano and Ewing Buick GMC to kick off construction on a thirty-one-acre site for their new facilities. Located on the Dallas North Tollway near Spring Creek Parkway, the site will expand the capacity of everything from the showrooms to the service bays — and include some nice additions such as children’s play areas and full-service coffee bars. The new, expansive 155,000-square-foot Mercedes-Benz of Plano and 119,000-square-foot Ewing Buick GMC are slated to open July 2015.

The Ewing Automotive Group was started in 1940 by the grandfather of Fin, Bruton Orand, and has spanned three generations. Though the company has undergone various moves and name changes, the one constant in the company’s history has been an unwavering commitment to customer service throughout the years.

We’re excited to see their continued growth, and look forward to being a part of whatever new ventures are on the horizon for our friends at Ewing.

— Team Banowetz

Raising the Bar: Bar 54 Logo and Menu

June 3, 2014 Wes Phelan

Banowetz + Company has enjoyed the opportunity to work on various projects with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. Recently, we were tasked with naming, branding and creating the menu for the Hyatt Times Square rooftop lounge. Given the vast number of restaurants, bars and lounges in the city, it was a challenge finding a name that was unique and still related to the property. Located on the 54th floor of the Hyatt Time Squares and the highest rooftop lounge in the city, the venue offers spectacular views that stretch across Manhattan from the Hudson River to the East River. Capitalizing on its lofty location, we landed on the name Bar 54.

We presented a wide variety of logo designs — each of which was simple, clean and modern to complement the design of the space. The chosen logo incorporates tall, condensed type that mimics the skyward architecture of the hotel. When it came to the menu, we also used a vertical, slender format. And because the list of drink offerings was quite extensive, we sprinkled alcohol-related quotes by famous individuals throughout the layout in an effort to break up the content and engage the reader. The client and our team were quite happy with the outcome.

Image courtesy of Navid Baraty — Image courtesy of Navid Baraty

So, next time you are in NYC looking for a spectacular place to grab a drink, take the elevator at the Hyatt Times Square way up to the 54th floor. You won’t be let down.

— Team Banowetz

NorthPark, We Heart Your Art: New exhibition

May 21, 2014 Kris Murphy

Photograph by Elisabeth Bernstein. Image courtesy of the artist and Paul Kasmin Gallery.

Photograph by James Ewing. Image courtesy of the artist and Paul Kasmin Gallery.

NorthPark Center is one of our favorite clients and the premier shopping center in Dallas. And that being the case, it can be easy to take for granted what an incredible place it is and what it brings to our community. The stunning architecture and beautiful landscaping alone are enough to set it apart — as well as the amazing collection of shops and boutiques. But for me, the icing on the cake is the art. NorthPark has a long tradition of making its world-class art collection available to the public for free, turning every visit into a cultural experience. More than 26 million visitors a year have the opportunity to view the works of such renowned artists as Mark di Suvero, Andy Warhol and Joel Shapiro, to name only a few. And today, a new exhibition is being unveiled that will certainly be an exciting addition.

This Land is Your Land by Brooklyn-based Chilean artist Iván Navarro is comprised of three elevated wooden water towers. What appear to be ordinary structures at first, reveal another layer of information when viewers walk underneath. The interiors have been illuminated with neon messaging as part as the artist’s statement on the experience of immigration in America. I imagine seeing these typically-outdoor objects amid the shops and shoppers will spark a lot of interest.

You can view this new installation over the next twelve months on Level One between Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, near Gucci. The view from Level Two will offer a different perspective. Whether you’re an art lover or just need to do a little shopping, don’t miss this chance to view this intriguing work at my favorite art venue, NorthPark.

— Kris Murphy, Senior Designer