Peter Lewis' audio art has been heard by audiences all over the world. This week, at last, the Seattle sound designer will play to a hometown crowd. He has created something special for the occasion, a work that he thinks will move them, even inspire them - to buy athletic shoes and sportswear at Seattle's new Nike Town store. (The new downtown store at Sixth and Pike opens to VIPs today and to the public Saturday.)

Lewis creates audio environments, mainly for trade shows and stores. His creations are heard daily at the four Nike Towns around the country. The Seattle store is the fifth.

"Audio is the magical medium," Lewis said. "It brings together the graphics, the architecture, the marketing efforts."

Nike's goal is nothing less than inspiration.

"We're trying to create more than just a visit to a store," said John Farnum, creative director of retail design for the athletic-shoe giant.

"We're trying to really inspire people, motivate people, get them into the experience of sport," Farnum said. Audio has "always been a real key element."

If you're shopping for basketball gear, you'll hear the squeak of shoes on hardwood, the swish of a three-point shot, the sharp whistle of the referee.

Over in soccer you'll hear the crowd roar at a brilliant shot on the goal.

In the climbing section you'll hear the whistle of wind on granite, the soft rattle and clank of climbing gear, perhaps the ragged breath of a climber stretching for a toehold hundreds of feet up a sheer rock face.

"We're trying to give the audience the idea of participating in the sport," Lewis says.