Sally Wern Comport and Art at Large, Inc. contributes to all-new Top of the Rock experience at Rockefeller Center with THG Creative and their client Tishman Speyer
New York City, NY
Working in partnership with the Tishman Speyer team, THG Creative led the vision behind the reimagining of Rockefeller Center’s “Top of the Rock” experience. Top of the Rock now includes multiple experiences brought to life by THG including mezzanine activations and photo moments, engaging theater and elevator multimedia shows, and two key rooftop attractions: The Beam and Skylift.
Before patrons make their way to the top of the 70th floor for a breathtaking 360-degree view of New York City, they are greeted with over 304 linear feet of custom murals throughout the Welcome Gallery created and hand-painted by Sally Wern Comport. The traditional murals echo the true craftsmanship and detail of Rockefeller Center’s architecture, while a central 10ft. model replica of Rockefeller Center with a lively projection-mapped show demonstrates the ingenuity of the experience.
(See below for full project Vendor list.)
The custom mural artwork accompanies visitors as they navigate through the multimedia theater space, the dynamic elevator experience, and as guests await entry to the thrilling Beam and Skylift experiences.
The Artist for the Job
THG Creative approached Comport through her illustration agent Shannon Associates, appreciating her portfolio of WPA-esque figurative and architectural paintings, as well as her ability to successfully design and create site-specific, large-scale art installations. Comport delved deep into research after coming aboard the project Fall 2022, conceptualizing murals with THG that would integrate into the built environment, while also complimenting the existing historic architecture and pubic art of the campus.
What resulted was a stylized, illustrative visual history portraying the significance of Rockefeller Center since its beginnings, including the famous steel workers photographed atop the Beam during the building’s construction. From the impressive public art masterpieces throughout the Plaza and gardens, to the timeless landmarks of the campus—Radio City Music Hall, the annual Christmas Tree and the ice rink, NBC studios, and the Rainbow Room—these murals capture the joy and connectedness of these celebrated destinations.
Filmmaker Robbie Isacson joined in the Art at Large studio to document the process.
Click the images to view these short films.
THG + Tishman Speyer’s concept of Rockefeller Center as a symbolic “spark” of imagination and innovation inspired Comport to incorporate Art-Deco-style sprays of light throughout the artworks. To echo the incredible use of gold accents within Rockefeller Center, Sally recruited fellow Art at Large artist Lindsay Bolin Lowery to enhance the hand-painted murals with
670 linear feet of 23k gold leaf.
Get a behind the scenes look :
from the drawing board to the wall, with 304+ linear feet of custom mural art
These legacy murals will be on permanent display, greeting hundreds of millions of visitors each year as they experience one of the world’s most iconic and culturally significant landmarks.
Professional photos from the Top of the Rock Experience • Site photos © Art at Large, Inc. • Process photos © Robbie Isacson
Under the direction of THG Creative and their client Tishman Speyer, The Top of the Rock Experience was made possible by the following vendors:
TAIT (Skylift engineering, fabrication and install) Electrosonic (AVC Integration) Adirondack (Scenic Fabricator) Eos Lightmedia (Lighting Integration) Visual Terrain (Lighting Designer–Mezzanine & Elevators) David Finn Design (Lighting Designer–Skylift & Elevators) Supply & Demand (Media Designer) Yessian (Music & Sound Design) Cadmium Scenique (Model Maker/Show Set) Hunt Design (Signage Design) 5TEN (LED Consultant) Cimolai (Beam fabricator and install) TechMD (AVC Design) The Fury Studio (Media/Projection Support) TWT (Ride/Attraction Consultant) 11:11 (Creative–Models/Mock-ups) Gilbane (Construction Management) MDA (Executive Architect) AMA Group (MEP Engineers) GMS (Structural Engineers) Schindler (Elevator) National Cab (Elevator Cab interiors) The Andrus Group (Project Management Support)