Polaris Fashion Place

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Polaris Fashion Place

Columbus, OH All Indoor

Polaris Fashion Place is a regional shopping center in fast-growing Columbus, Ohio. The facility offers an intriguing mix of anchor stores, restaurants and fashion retailers focused on providing exceptional shopping experiences. In 2001, Polaris partnered with Soft Play® to add a premier family play area to increase its appeal and encourage repeat visits.

Unique Play Through Collaboration

Fourteen years after installation, Polaris Fashion Place was ready to update its existing play area. Soft Play worked with the facility’s management and development firm to give the space a makeover. Our team also collaborated with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, one of the top-rated zoos in the United States, to reinvent the existing play space.

The Vision

According to the manager at Polaris, the center wanted to create a unique zoo-themed play area. Themed indoor play spaces offer many benefits, such as empowering learningechoing a geographic location and reinforcing a brand’s messaging. The vision for the Polaris Zoo was a continuation of what the facility calls “Experience Retail™” and a design that went beyond the norms to wow its customers.

The Challenges

One of the primary challenges with this project was replacing the existing highlight feature, a 13-foot tree. While it generated interest, Polaris Fashion Place wanted a larger focal point that truly commanded attention.

Soft Play also needed to incorporate newer technology into the play elements to help the space increase its function and educational value while staying on brand with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium motif.

Soft Play Features at Polaris Fashion Place

Polaris Fashion Place installed multiple Soft Play features to create a one-of-a-kind play and education solution for kids 48 inches and shorter.

Zoo-Themed Indoor Play Sculptures

Soft Play and the zoo’s team worked together to design numerous kid-friendly sculpted foam play elements representing many of the species that reside at the zoo:

  • Lioness and lion cub
  • Turtle
  • Polar bear
  • Gorilla
  • Zebra
  • Kangaroo
  • Flamingo
  • Elephant

Each play element features a familiar animal and allows kids to climb over, under and through. As a result, young ones can build their muscles and practice their balance and coordination skills.

Our indoor play sculptures also provide opportunities for creative gameplay and tactile exploration. With extended durability and easy upkeep, they’re an ideal choice for high-traffic spaces.

Interactive Games

The Columbus Zoo play area has interactive games for kids to enjoy while creating family memories. Younger visitors can solve problems and sharpen their interaction and communication skills.

Soft Play, Polaris Fashion Place and the development firm incorporated these interactive games into the seating that encloses the play area for added supervision and safety.

Custom-Designed Centerpiece and Entryway

The zoo-themed play structures surround the new focal point — a sculptured 23-foot tree featuring more animals kids can see at the zoo, like swinging monkeys and colorful birds. A tall giraffe wraps gracefully around the trunk. Embedded speakers recreate the zoo experience by playing recordings of sounds from animals like elephants, lions and chimpanzees.

The tree also features a small kiddie slide that helps kids develop healthy vestibular and proprioception systems by processing balance and movement.

Soft Play helped bring unique touches to the Polaris Zoo entryway, too. Custom stone-like pillars flank the access and support a sign with the familiar zoo logo. Next to the column is a bespoke khaki-clad sculpture of Jack Hanna, the zoo’s well-known Director Emeritus. Jack sports a friendly smile and helps enforce the play area’s height limit.

The Results

The Polaris Fashion Place experienced exceptional results from the reimagined play space.

Year-Round Fun That Increases Foot Traffic

The new tree is a can’t-miss element with its towering height. It’s visible from the mall’s upper levels. Since it’s indoors, kids can enjoy the play space any time of the year.

Retailers located near the play area report it generates higher traffic to their stores. They also enjoy seeing happier families playing together and having fun in the space.

A Multipurpose Area That Broadens Learning

In addition to playing the zoo soundtrack, the tree’s speakers function for presentations. Kids can see live animals from the zoo and learn about them through zoo employees’ stories. During events, the zoo’s team connects a microphone to the tree’s speaker system to broadcast the presentation. These educational events make learning fun and serve as a different way to attract young families to Polaris Fashion Place.

Increase Your Facility’s Wow Factor With Soft Play

Since 1984, Soft Play has been helping worldwide organizations achieve their play space goals with innovative elements. We offer proven solutions for driving more traffic and growing your business through play. Our collection of products offers options for indoor and outdoor play spaces for maximum flexibility.

Request a quote on our pre-designed elements or connect with a local representative to discuss custom approaches.

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