A.R.E. Awards – Softline Specialty Store 3,001 to 7,500 sf – Outstanding Merit

The Lacoste flagship‘s prime location on Fifth Avenue meant designers had to create an instant classic. A featured architectural element, the floating, illuminated concrete staircase, offers a 360-degree view. The cantilevered staircase adds a modern sculptural quality to the space with polished stainless steel, low-iron star-fire clear glass balustrades, inset concrete treads, illuminated metal pans, and leather-wrapped hand rails.

Subtle brand call-outs include a leather-wrapped handrail reminiscent of tennis racket grip tape, a faux crocodile upholstered wall treatment, and custom crocodile chandelier fixtures. Thirty LCD screens and a new sound system contribute to a lively space. Relocating an elevator and redesigning wall units and fixtures increased the size of the original store by an additional 1,000 square feet.