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Being their flagship
United States retail establishment, aesthetics were paramount in the
concepts developed for this Italian clothing manufacturer. All aspects of
the Mechanical and Electrical designs were coordinated in detail to
establish a specific appearance. With exposed piping and ductwork
throughout the space the mechanical and electrical elements were
incorporated into the Architectural design concept. As a "cutting
edge" retailer, design elements for this project would set new
standards for the display of clothing worldwide and in many cases were
developed specifically for this project. From the large illuminated signs
marking the project location to the illuminated washing machine displays
this project posed major challenges to the design team to incorporate
innovative thinking in the application of systems design.
Occupying 15,000 square
feet on three floors of the building placed a major premium on floor space
allowed for mechanical and electrical equipment for the project. Air
conditioning for the project was provided by two "York" 20 ton
split air conditioning systems. Heat rejection for the system was provided
by two outdoor air-cooled condensing units, which were located on a small
setback area in the rear of the building. New structural framing was
provided to support the installation of the new equipment in this area.
Vertical indoor air handlers were located in the rear of the store to
minimize the impact on the floor space of the project. Exposed ductwork
was designed for the main floors of the project with special air diffusers
were provided by "Seiho" to obtain the "hard" look
desired by the client.
The lease agreement for
the space dictated that dedicated utilities be provided for the project.
Heating for the project is therefore provided by a new high-pressure
utility company steam service located in the basement of the building.
Steam is piped from the basement to the air handlers located on the second
floor of the building to provide heat for the retail store.
A new electric service
was designed for the space including new distribution panels and metering
equipment. A "Lutron" dimming system was designed for the
project to provide integrated control of all light fixtures in the space.
Track lighting was employed to provide a flexible platform for both
ambient and display lighting. Dimming cabinets for the space were located
to minimize the impact on the aesthetics of the space. Cash wrap stations
for the store were imported from Italy and constructed on site. Electrical
power and data wiring were incorporated into the furniture and coordinated
on site during construction to insure the appearance of the space.
New fire protection systems for the space included a dedicated fire alarm system and automatic wet pipe sprinkler system. The fire alarm system is handicapped compliant with strobes and other devices strategically located to minimize the visual impact on the stores appearance without compromising life safety of the occupants. Automatic wet pipe sprinklers were installed throughout the store to provide increased life safety for both customers and employees. Each sprinkler head and sprinkler pipe were painstakingly coordinated with the other design elements of the project to provide the aesthetic appearance desired by the client.