2004 Retail Design Award Winners

Store of the Year’s Attention to Small Details Makes a Big Impact
Holt Renfrew
Toronto
Architecture Young & Wright Architects, Toronto
Design burdifilek, Toronto
Fixtures Unique Store Fixtures Ltd., Concord, ON, Canada
General Contracting PCL Constructors, Mississauga, ON, Canada
General Contracting Structure Corp., Toronto
Photgraphy A Frame, Toronto
Retailer Holt Renfrew & Co. Ltd., Toronto

In its latest renovation and relaunch into the international market, this store in Toronto embodies Holt Renfrew’s dedication to the highest level of international luxury retailing. An umbrella concept was designed for the entire floor, which was then customized and differentiated for each department. The DNA of the design remains in the custom finishes, however. Embracing exotic woods, a sensitive color palette, and custom artwork and finishes, the design team created a unique sensory experience that is distinctly Holt Renfrew.

The cosmetics area finds a group of luxury companies all defining their individuality with consistent finishes, textures, and customized millwork. The fine jewelry department presents the collections under starfire glass on museum bases, with a backdrop of custom birch bark and alabaster finishes. In the men’s departments, collections are shown against imbuya wood, Lucite and stone display tables, with the fitting area outfitted in macassar wood and a fireplace. The soft accessories department boasts a feminine atmosphere, using rosewood, skin tones, chocolate glass and a transitional wall color that evokes a sense of a luxury lifestyle.
This store and its beautifully detailed store fixtures set a precedent for luxury retail.

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Fixture of the Year Is More Than Just a Fixture
Futuretronics: Display Pod Grouping
Mall of Millenia, Orlando, Fla.
Architecture Miroglio Architecture & Design, Oakland, Calif.
Design Miroglio Architecture & Design, Oakland, Calif.
Fixtures Moz Designs, Oakland, Calif.
General Contracting Andrew Maxx, Westerville, Ohio
Photgraphy Joel Gardner Photgraphy, Berkeley, Calif.
Retailer Futuretronics, Houston

The fixtures in this year’s “Fixture of the Year” Display Pod Grouping are the interior of the store and are themselves machines for displaying high-end consumer electronic devices. With the glass pod vitrine display fixtures serving as the graphic identity of the store, the rest of the project was essentially a receptacle for the fixtures. The fixtures feature flexible display shelves projecting from clear acrylic poles that extend out of a glowing resin base, all within a 10-ft.-tall glass enclosure. The vitrine fixtures are supplied with power and data/communication cables to facilitate uncluttered, 360-degree merchandising of the electronic devices.

The storefront is simply an extension of the interior, so the fixtures are the storefront, blurring the distinction between inside and outside. Because of their size and weight, the fixtures had to be fabricated in a modular fashion. The products’ enormous wire-handling needs were met with wiring carefully fit into the supply poles. The lighted bases required careful construction to minimize joints and provide adequate concealed ventilation. The variety of materials—resin sheet, aluminum, stainless steel, acrylic, and glass—necessitated a great variety of connection details. Two stores are currently using this prototype design.

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Grand Prize
Restaurant/Foodservice
Salad King Restaurant
Toronto
Architecture Giancarlo Garofalo Architect, Toronto
Design munge//leung: design associates, Toronto
Fixtures Cambo Restaurant Equipment Mfg., Scarborough, ON, Canada
General Contracting Cambo Restaurant Equipment Mfg., Scarborough, ON, Canada
Photgraphy Ted Yarwood Photographer, Toronto
Retailer Salad King Restaurant, Toronto

Renovated to better appeal to the diverse diners in its trendy downtown locale, this Thai restaurant features a clean, modern look for local university students downstairs and a mature, formal ambiance for business movers and shakers upstairs. Modularly laid out custom furniture maximizes functional space. Large stainless-steel communal dining tables, some with movable seating and others with fixed wooden benches, accommodate the fast pace and high volume, with benchwork snaking around the column.

Outstanding Merit
Restaurant/Foodservice
Gyu-Kaku Restaurant
Beverly Hills, Calif.
Architecture PAL International, Los Angeles
Design Reins International Inc., Tokyo
General Contracting West Wing Corp., Newport Beach, Calif.
Photgraphy Marz Network, Gardena, Calif.

An innovative downdraft system creates a smokeless environment for this interactive dining experience known as yakiniku (“grilling meat”). Diners grill food over individual charcoal roasters atop each table. Wood from old American barns has been reincarnated for decorative touches contributing to the interplay of textures, which also include Japanese rice paper, traditional screens, imported carved wood, polished stone, and textured mortar. This is the third California store for the Japanese Gyu-Kaku (“horn of the bull”) chain.

Outstanding Merit
Restaurant/Foodservice
Ultra Supper Club
Toronto
Architecture Giancarlo Garofalo Architect, Toronto
Design munge//leung: design associates, Toronto
Fixtures Art Metal Industries, Mississauga, ON, Canada
General Contracting Arjeco Industries Ltd., Woodbridge, ON, Canada
Photgraphy Ted Yarwood Photographer, Toronto
Retailer Ultra Supper Club, Toronto

This new dining, lounging, and dancing venue harmonizes furnishings inspired by various cultures: Japanese-style fabric lanterns, Chinese daybeds and antiques, African and Indonesian artifacts and furnishings, 16th century carved wood church doors from India, handblown hanging glass vases from France, New York designer fabrics, and modern candle chandeliers. The brick wall veneer is reclaimed from a historical building, and a teak-look bar is surrounded by a beveled bronzed mirror wall in a grid pattern.

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Grand Prize
Grocery Store
Sobeys Metro Market
Toronto
Design Watt IDG, Toronto
Fixtures McDonald Store Fixtures, Guelph, ON, Canada
General Contracting Above Board Construction, Pickering, ON, Canada
Retailer Sobeys Inc., Toronto

This urban store is designed to appeal to downtown businesspeople for lunch and to residents for shopping. Dark, low ceilings create intimacy and draw the eye to signage; department signs reinforce quality and service messages. The intricate floor pattern is mirrored by subtle wall tile patterns at service points, while movable fixtures provide flexibility. Wood fixtures and warm colors in the Fresh & Ready department evoke a market atmosphere, and vertical merchandising accentuates the product selection.

Outstanding Merit
Grocery Store
Mega
Cuernavaca, Mexico
Design Pavlik Design Team, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Fixtures J.M. Romo, Aguascalientes, Mexico
Fixtures Metal SA, Mexico
Fixtures Semad, Mexico
Photgraphy Dana Hoff Photgraphy, Lake Park, Fla.
Retailer Tiendas Commercial Mexicana Mega, Colonia San Juan, Mexico

The vibrant color palette in this discount supermarket whets the appetite, prompting impulse purchases. Made customer-friendly with low gondolas and spacious aisles for open sightlines and easy navigation, Mega projects a strong image with curved walls and circular design elements. Departments are delineated by color, large signage, and decorative ceiling touches. Bright, efficient lighting storewide coupled with the open, airy design maximize exposure to goods, enhancing the perception of freshness for perishables.

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Grand Prize
Food Retailer
Pusateri’s
Toronto
Architecture Page & Steele Architects Planners, Toronto
Design GHA Shoppingscapes, Montreal
Fixtures CAJ-Les Constructions Alain Jacques, Laval, PQ, Canada
Fixtures Lucifer, Montreal
General Contracting Jasper Construction Corp., Concord, ON, Canada
Photgraphy Yves Lefebvre, Montreal
Retailer Pusateri’s, Toronto

This fine food emporium marries Old World and modernist touches. Undulating acrylic lighting elements lead the shopper through the narrow space. Materials used include textured marble and granite, sparkling glass mosaics, sleek stainless steel, and mellow walnut paneling. The circulation plan incorporates tasting stations, demo areas, and a kitchen theatrically revealed behind textured glass panels. The seafood area features honeycomb panels with gradually changing hues, evoking the iridescent sparkle of fish scales.

Outstanding Merit
Food Retailer
LCBO Summerhill Flagship Store
Toronto
Architecture Goldsmith Borgal & Co. Ltd. Architects, Toronto
Design Fiorino Design Inc., Toronto
Fixtures CCI Woodwork, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Fixtures Vic Store Fixtures Inc., Victoriaville, PQ, Canada
Fixtures Wallwood Construction Ltd., Richmond Hill, ON, Canada
General Contracting Eastern Construction, Toronto
Photgraphy David Whittaker Photographer Inc., Toronto
Retailer Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Toronto

A restored 1916 train station houses Canada’s largest (31,000 sq. ft.) liquor store. Original ticket wickets and gates are incorporated, open-backed perimeter tapered metal fixtures expose restored marble, and country-of-origin signage pays homage to the travel heritage. The 38-ft.-high great hall precludes track lighting, so fixtures are self-illuminated; metal rod suspension allows for overhead chandeliers without marring the restored plaster ceiling. The tiered Clock Tower Display Case (not shown here) made of steel finished in satin epoxy has sandblasted glass shelving.

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Grand Prize
Full-Service Spa
Nordstrom Spa
Houston
Design Callison Architecture Inc., Seattle
Fixtures Goebel Fixture Co., Hutchinson, Minn.
Retailer Nordstrom, Seattle

The tight budget for this remodel necessitated careful material selection to achieve a luxurious, soothing environment with the plushness befitting Nordstrom’s image. Complementing the inexpensive, textured fabric are glass, mica, and mother-of-pearl casework mixed with woven grass panels. Drapery and translucent art glass panels separate spaces and provide privacy. State-of-the-art spa equipment is hidden to create seamless serenity. The earthy, tranquil quality reflects relaxed elegance.

Outstanding Merit
Full-Service Spa
Aveda Tokyo Lifestyle Salon and Spa
Tokyo
Architecture Heart, Tokyo
Design FRCH Design Worldwide, Cincinnati
Photgraphy Nacasa & Partners, Tokyo
Retailer Aveda, New York

This three-story salon, spa, shop, and café uses locally sourced, eco-friendly materials such as recycled glass and biofiber composite boards in keeping with Aveda’s strong environmental philosophy. Cabinets are made of certified Tamo oak, harvested to make flood damage less severe. The flooring and stairs are constructed from wood reclaimed from an abandoned 100-year-old farmhouse. The backsplash in the salon was created from Oiso beach gravel. Wood and warm colors in the spa invite relaxation.

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Grand Prize
Service Retailer
ICI Paints
Toronto
Design HOK Canada, Toronto
Photgraphy David Whittaker Photographer Inc., Toronto
Retailer ICI Paints, Toronto

This showroom presents more than 6,000 paint chips in large pivoting displays, allowing customers to manipulate the space to create color stories. The simple environment provides a clean background for color review and selection. Balanced lighting accurately depicts the colors, while additional light sources enable viewing in applied circumstances. Spinner displays showcase the latest finishes. The ever-changing light-activated brand identity board at the entry relates brand messages.

Outstanding Merit
Service Retailer
FedEx World Service Centers Prototype
Chicago
Architecture Callison Architecture Inc., Seattle
Design Callison Architecture Inc., Seattle
Design Ziba Design, Portland, Ore.
Fixtures Accel Group, Wadsworth, Ohio
General Contracting Pelar Construction Inc., Chicago
Retailer FedEx, Memphis, Tenn.

Breaking the traditional shipping service center “counter culture,” this prototype for remodels of 600 to 1,800 sq. ft. enhances the customer experience with customized fixtures, digital graphics, and a fresh take on finishes. The modular fixture package adapts to existing configurations. It accommodates the functional needs of differing agent and courier workflows. Brand, marketing, and service messages on strategically placed LCD panels cut the usual clutter. A scaleable, flexible kit of parts promotes efficiency and precision in varying installations.

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Grand Prize
Hardline Shop in a Store
Home Electronics Department
The Great Indoors, Deerfield, Ill.
Design Winntech, Kansas City, Mo.
Fixtures Winntech, Kansas City, Mo.
Photgraphy Winntech, Kansas City, Mo.
Retailer The Great Indoors, Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Wide aisles, good sightlines, and a glowing perimeter wall eliminate the “dark cave” feel typical of home electronics departments. Lighted fixture walls display flat-panel and LCD TVs. To meet technological advances in home electronics products, bulky gondolas for old-style big-screen TVs were replaced with miniature modular vignettes of completely integrated and bundled systems. A full-line SKU assortment from the product category in each vignette is merchandised adjacently in compact shelves with educational signage and graphics.

Outstanding Merit
Hardline Shop in a Store
Levenger
Marshall Fields, Chicago
Design JGA, Southfield, Mich.
Fixtures Carlson Co. Inc. of Madison, Madison, Wis.
Photgraphy Laszlo Regos, Berkley, Mich.
Retailer Levenger, Delray Beach, Fla.

A residential feel in this home-library products and furnishings store is evident in wall niches, varying ceiling heights, fluted columns with ornate capitals topped in silver leaf, and sophisticated finishes of stone, metal, and glass. Multilevel display cases with product groupings eliminate linear monotony. Leather goods are highlighted against linen panels. Ribbed glass, reminiscent of a vintage office front door, contrasts the contemporary stainless-steel table framework and shelving systems. Top surfaces are thick slabs of highly textural quarried Mankato stone.

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Grand Prize
Softline Shop in a Store
Merrell Custom Retail Program
Erehwon Mountain Outfitters, Chicago
Design RPA, Columbus, Ohio
Fixtures Becker Studios, Chicago
Fixtures Store Contract Management Ltd., Pickering, ON, Canada
General Contracting Dynamic Resources Inc., New York
Retailer Erehwon Mountain Outfitters, Chicago
Retailer Merrell Performance Footwear, Rockford, Mich.

Cork wall paneling, steel rods, and faux-fur-lined shadowboxes lend a topographic feel in keeping with the product line of hiking boots and sport footwear. Wood and fabric complete the non-traditional assortment of textures. Visual interpretations of the brand and lifestyle imagery contribute to product information stories. Merrell’s custom retail program features two types of organically shaped Oasis product and seating centerpieces, offering retailers four color and material variations. The easy-to-shop format adapts to varied store environments.

Outstanding Merit
Softline Shop in a Store
Hotel Collection by Charter Club
Macy’s Herald Square, New York
Design Federated Merchandising Group, New York
Fixtures Artitalia Group, Montreal
Photgraphy Ricky Zehavi, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Retailer Macy's East, New York

This private-label luxury fashion bedding shop features fixtures of Wenge veneer with clear lacquer, plated dull argento metal, white lacquer wood, and clear and frosted glass. Frosted glass logos and “H”-monogramed guard rails brand the fixtures. Lockable glass towers house 1,000-count linens. Shelving in the rear of the headboards enables shoppers to access products displayed on low-rise contemporary beds. The shop is accented with branded plexi and resin logo blocks and wall plaque signage.

Outstanding Merit
Softline Shop in a Store
Timberland
Macy’s Herald Square, New York
Design FRCH Design Worldwide, Cincinnati
Fixtures Fleetwood Fixtures, Reading, Pa.
Fixtures Marlite, Dover, Ohio
General Contracting E.C. Provini Company Inc., Hazlet, N.J.
Photgraphy Mark Steele Photgraphy, Columbus, Ohio
Retailer The Timberland Co., Stratham, N.H.

Natural materials bring the outdoors in: bamboo flooring, textured woods, stacked stone, a recycled barn wood panel, and a signature leather-wrapped column. The ceiling trellis of seeded glass framed in Roman copper highlights product offerings while displaying seasonal elements such as fall leaves or winter ice crystals. Complementing the ceiling trellis are custom recycled wood fixtures with corresponding seeded glass toppers. A cashwrap of amber glass and reclaimed wood features a laser-cut Roman copper logo.

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Outstanding Merit
Department Store
El Puerto de Liverpool
Guadalajara, Mexico
Architecture El Puerto de Liverpool, Mexico City
Design RYA, Dallas
Fixtures Grupo Huitzilin, Mexico City
General Contracting Grupo Huitzilin, Mexico City
Photgraphy Andrea Brizzi, New York
Retailer El Puerto de Liverpool, Mexico City

Color enhances the Architecture and creates strong focal walls. Natural and artificial light blend, with major axes terminating at exterior walls with natural light. The interplay of form, color, light, and texture creates a welcoming, stimulating environment. The escalator well is an epicenter for the youthful image, with bold color complemented by translucent glass columns. Contemporary fixtures feature slim structures with simple lines. Extensive use of forms and backlit graphics add to the energetic dynamic.

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Grand Prize
Hardline Specialty Store Under 3,000 Sq. Ft.
Amore Pacific
New York
Architecture Dan Ionescu Architects, New York
Design Yabu Pushelberg, Toronto
Fixtures Izumi Stone Works, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan
Fixtures Marc Littlejohn Inc., Toronto
Fixtures Pancor Industries Ltd., Mississauga, ON, Canada
General Contracting E.W. Howell, New York
Photgraphy David M. Joseph Photgraphy, Pepper Pike, Ohio
Retailer Amore Pacific Inc., New York

Simple, bold finishes, forms, and materials emphasize the store’s length, while custom fixtures and displays convey the “East meets West” and “harmony of contrast” properties of the skin care line. Customers browse and test groupings at their own pace, stimulated by a projection that emulates the movement and behavior of water droplets. Reflecting pools showcase the products. A sheared stone sculpture displays new products. Multitiered 4-in.-thick acrylic consultation desks are framed by nature-evoking elements.

Outstanding Merit
Hardline Specialty Store Under 3,000 Sq. Ft.
Futuretronics
Mall of Millenia, Orlando, Fla.
Architecture Miroglio Architecture & Design, Oakland, Calif.
Design Miroglio Architecture & Design, Oakland, Calif.
Fixtures Moz Designs, Oakland, Calif.
General Contracting Andrew Maxx, Westerville, Ohio
Photgraphy Joel Gardner Photgraphy, Berkeley, Calif.
Retailer Futuretronics, Houston

Designed as a backdrop for unique fixtures, this space embodies high-tech in no uncertain terms. Glass display vitrines with glowing resin bases feature power and data/communication cables to facilitate uncluttered presentation of the electronic devices. Circles in the ceiling and floor design, defined by fixture placement, encourage 360-degree viewing of the products. An extension of the interior, the “storefront” comprises the caster-mounted fixtures, blurring the distinction between inside and outside and directing mall foot traffic into the store.

Outstanding Merit
Hardline Specialty Store Under 3,000 Sq. Ft.
Palm Store Century City
Los Angeles
Architecture Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects, Memphis, Tenn.
Design B&N Industries Inc., Burlingame, Calif.
Fixtures B&N Industries Inc., Burlingame, Calif.
Fixtures Cherner Chair Co., Westport, Conn.
Fixtures Moss Inc., Belfast, Maine
General Contracting Vertical Retail Solutions, Andover, Conn.
Photgraphy Scott Van Dyke Studios, Palm Springs, Calif.
Retailer Palm One Inc., Milpitas, Calif.

Slender vertical fixtures make effective use of this 350-sq.-ft. space. With a cleanroom-like ambiance, the store’s café-table fixtures and stools invite shoppers to play with the handheld devices. Funnel-shaped fixtures house lighting and hide power connections to eliminate clutter. A logo and warmly colored wall niches stand out in stark contrast to the white walls. Showcased in the largest niche are images communicating product features and benefits.

Outstanding Merit
Hardline Specialty Store Under 3,000 Sq. Ft.
Urban Angler
New York
Architecture TPG Architecture, New York
Design TPG Architecture, New York
Fixtures Sajo, Mount Royal, AB, Canada
General Contracting Nucor Construction, New York
Photgraphy Mike Butler Architectural Photgraphy, Hollywood, Fla.
Retailer Urban Angler, New York

Unusual and stock materials are imaginatively combined. With five modular tops fitting three variations of a standard 4-ft. base, specialized custom fixtures adapt for merchandise ranging from half-inch hooks to 17-ft. rods, with oak veneer adding a natural dimension. Cork tile countertops echo the rods’ core grips. Organized merchandise bays house products for all flyfishing needs, and supplies are hung on a wall tapestry-style with natural materials woven in an arrangement of texture and color.

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Grand Prize
Softline Specialty Store Under 3,000 Sq. Ft.
Mountain Adventure Centre
Whistler, BC, Canada
Design Square One Interiors Inc., Richmond, ON, Canada
Fixtures Kodama Woodworking Ltd., Vancouver, BC, Canada
General Contracting Intrawest Corp. at Whistler/Blackcomb, Whistler, BC, Canada
Photgraphy Roger Brooks Photgraphy, Vancouver, Canada
Retailer Intrawest Corp. at Whistler/Blackcomb, Whistler, BC, Canada

A floating ceiling plane and vertical panels create the illusion of space in this 1,140-sq.-ft. ski store. Custom elliptical fixtures ease traffic flow, facilitating the dual functions of equipment rental and sales. Layered paneling and wall break-up organizes merchandising for the two brands. Maximized display areas fulfill the retailer’s strategy of covering every inch with product, yet details isolate merchandise and highlight design elements. Clean, simple lines and colors evoke vigor and crisp mountain air.

Outstanding Merit
Softline Specialty Store Under 3,000 Sq. Ft.
CBC Showcase Retail Store
Toronto
Architecture Naylor Architect Inc., North York, ON, Canada
Design DLB Design, Toronto
Design Grapheme Branding & Design, Toronto
Fixtures Rochon Building Corporation, Toronto
Fixtures Tri-V Custom Manufacturing Inc., Concord, ON, Canada
General Contracting Rochon Building Corporation, Toronto
Photgraphy Interior Images, Toronto
Retailer Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Toronto

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation programming content is promoted in this retail space through personal sound domes, a plasma screen, an internet kiosk, and window lightboxes. The storefront slab, fixtures, and signage feature CBC corporate red. A suspended, illuminated fabric element acts as a beacon from the lobby and street. Taking the design outside the box—literally—is a movable wall that takes the space from 400 sq. ft. at night to 600 sq. ft. during operating hours.

Outstanding Merit
Softline Specialty Store Under 3,000 Sq. Ft.
Walk-Shop Camper L.A.
Los Angeles
Architecture Andrade Studio Architects, Pasadena, Calif.
Design Andrade Studio Architects, Pasadena, Calif.
Design Estudio Camper, Mallorca, Spain
General Contracting Crane Construction, Glendale, Ariz.
Photgraphy Sheldon Preston, Pasadena, Calif.
Retailer Camper Atlantic Corp., New York

A red line on the floor of the shoe store leads shoppers through the naturalistic scene, with cinematic backdrops reflecting the local film industry. Mirror monoliths help customers size up shoes, “The Bolas” encourage them to sit and play, and a graffiti wall invites self-expression. Camper shoes “climb” a wall depicting a mountain range. The Camper philosophy is reflected in recycled and eco-conscious materials such as benches covered with leather scraps from the shoe factory.

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Grand Prize
Hardline Specialty Store 3,000-25,000 Sq. Ft.
Automatrix
Louisville, Ky.
Design Winntech, Kansas City, Mo.
Fixtures Winntech, Kansas City, Mo.
Photgraphy Winntech, Kansas City, Mo.
Retailer Automatrix, Louisville, Ky.

This 6,394-sq.-ft. prototype store links the area’s largest automobile sales company with an auto aftermarket firm in a destination site featuring auto accessories, car audio/video/security products, wheels/tires, a body shop, and used-car lot. A unified brand strategy is reflected in the showroom design, displays, signage, environmental graphics, and interactive kiosks. The design is kept simple and clean with contemporary fixturing. The open ceiling reflects an industrial feel in keeping with the product line.

Outstanding Merit
Hardline Specialty Store 3,000-25,000 Sq. Ft.
Z Gallerie
Legacy Village, Lyndhurst, Ohio
Architecture Herschman Architects, Cleveland
Fixtures Lloyds Cabinets, Harbor City, Calif.
General Contracting Capitol Construction, Palatine, Ill.
Photgraphy Mort Tucker Photgraphy, Cleveland

This loft-style home furnishings store with its high, exposed-structure ceiling, rough wood floor, and exposed brick wall is departmentalized by a dropped checkout-area ceiling and by the products themselves. Furnishings such as screens and armoires divide space. Inspired by the products, the cashwrap makes one wonder where the merchandise ends and the fixturing begins, providing a seamless visual look. The gallery of wall art is confined to one side, set off by partial walls with large archway openings.

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Grand Prize
Softline Specialty Store 3,000-25,000 Sq. Ft.
Alexander McQueen
Bond Street, London
Architecture William Russell Architecture & Design, London
Fixtures Store Contract Management Ltd., Pickering, ON, Canada
General Contracting Bernard Williams Associates, Bromley, UK
Photgraphy Ed Reeve, London
Retailer Alexander McQueen, London

Poured terrazzo flooring curves up into lath-and-wire-mesh-plastered walls, while ceilings flow down into suspended fixtures for a fluid visual appeal. Hanging fixtures and floating seating add a cave-like feel. Merchandise is highlighted in niches in suspended fixtures and perimeter coves. An opening in the upper-level floor around the column encourages clients to check out products downstairs. Thanks to the self-illuminated suspended fixtures, the ceiling surfaces do not contain any lighting.

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Grand Prize
Specialty Store Over 25,000 Sq. Ft.
Bass Pro Shops/Worldwide Sportsman
Destin, Fla.
Architecture Butler Rosenbury & Partners, Springfield, Mo.
Design Bass Pro Shops Inc. Architects, Springfield, Mo.
Fixtures Bass Pro Fabrication Shop, Nixa, Mo.
Fixtures Classic Displays, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Fixtures Lozier Corp., Omaha, Neb.
Fixtures Reeve Store Equipment Co., Pico Rivera, Calif.
Fixtures Rocky Creek Ltd., Stephenville, Texas
Fixtures White Oak Displays, Manheim, Pa.
Fixtures Wood Systems, Tulsa, Okla.
General Contracting Centex-Rooney Construction Co., Plantation, Fla.
Photgraphy Douglas Hill Photgraphy, Snellville, Ga.
Retailer Bass Pro Shops Inc., Springfield, Mo.

Aesthetics and functionality are wed with fixtures whose design resembles their products’ usage, such as boat-shaped displays and posts topped with animal carvings. A saltwater aquarium filled with local marine life is complemented by taxidermy mounts of local fish, native sea oats and shark fins, walls finished with local coral stone, ship mooring posts as bollards, nautilus shells carved in the floor, marine-life sculptures in the metal railing, a seashell wall sconce, and the nautical character of steel frame trusses.

Outstanding Merit
Specialty Store Over 25,000 Sq. Ft.
Sears Grand
West Jordan, Utah
Design Pavlik Design Team, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Fixtures Amstore Corp., Coopersville, Mich.
Fixtures Borroughs, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Fixtures CAP & Associates Inc., Columbus, Ohio
Fixtures Harbor Industries Inc., Grand Haven, Mich.
Fixtures Lozier Corp., Omaha, Neb.
Fixtures Pan-Oston Co., Glasgow, Ky.
Fixtures Ready Metal Mfg., Chicago
Photgraphy Dan Sjostrom, Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Retailer Sears, Roebuck & Co., Hoffman Estates, Ill.

The 210,000-sq.-ft. space is elongated for maximum storefront exposure with a shallow footprint making the back of the store approachable. Central pads are anchored by three pavilions providing architectural volume, hierarchy, and layering of merchandise stories. The three aisle systems of the home fashions, apparel, and home improvements departments are connected by a main boulevard. Architectural prosceniums bridging the boulevard convey brand messages and draw the eye to the back of the store.

Outstanding Merit
Specialty Store Over 25,000 Sq. Ft.
Summit Racing
Tallmadge, Ohio
Architecture Herschman Architects, Cleveland
Design Herschman Architects, Cleveland
Fixtures Hattenbach Co., Youngstown, Ohio
General Contracting R.P. Carbone Construction Co., Cleveland
Photgraphy Hedge Xtreme Media, Akron, Ohio
Retailer Summit Racing Equipment, Tallmadge, Ohio

Two Summit customer cars on cordoned-off turntables flank the entrance of this performance auto parts and accessories store. Angled racks display parts for easy recognition, and strategically located sales/service pods facilitate good customer relations. The dusky-sky-colored ceiling and directional lighting create intimacy in the big-box space. The theme is carried through with an elevated NASCAR racetrack, video monitors, a checkered flag customer circulation path, glass curtain walls with neon signs, and a sparkling wheel wall.

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Store Fixture Awards Recognize the Team Effort of Great Design & Manufacturing

Bass Pro Shops/Worldwide Sportsman: Store Fixture Grouping
Destin, Fla.
Architecture Butler Rosenbury & Partners, Springfield, Mo.
Design Bass Pro Shops Inc., Springfield, Mo.
Fixtures Bass Pro Fabrication Shop, Nixa, Mo.
Fixtures Classic Displays, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Fixtures Lozier Corp., Omaha, Neb.
Fixtures Reeve Store Equipment Co., Pico Rivera, Calif.
Fixtures Rocky Creek Ltd., Stephenville, Texas
Fixtures White Oak Displays, Manheim, Pa.
Fixtures Wood Systems, Tulsa, Okla.
General Contracting Centex-Rooney Construction Co., Plantation, Fla.
Photgraphy Douglas Hill Photgraphy, Snellville, Ga.
Retailer Bass Pro Shops Inc., Springfield, Mo.

The store fixtures throughout this Destin location bring the surrounding area’s coastal environment and the region’s rich, enduring cultural heritage inside to inspire outdoor enthusiasts and tourists alike. There’s a fishing platform motif above the elevator, mast arm fixtures, hand-carved gates with wrap-around fish patterns, boat name signs above the check-out boats, and flags handcrafted from aged metal. Even the store’s directory, in the shape of a boat prow, echoes the thematic detailing consistent throughout the store’s fixtures.

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Best Buy: Demonstration Pods
Phoenix
Design Best Buy Co., Richfield, Minn.
Fixtures Acrylic Design Associates, Minneapolis, Minn.
Fixtures Phoenix Fixtures Inc., Roberts, Wis.
Retailer Best Buy Co., Richfield, Minn.

The unique size and shape of the Demonstration Pods makes them stand out in Best Buy stores. The doors around the entire base facilitate product changes. The spray-on protective coating around the perimeter of the counter makes each fixture more durable. And the circular hole pattern makes it easy to attach new parts as needs change. These pods are currently being tested in about 20 Best Buy stores. Their mission: To help customers connect all of the electronics they may already own and show them the cool things they can do with them.

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Canadian Tire: Tire Wall
Four Locations
Design Perennial Inc., Toronto
Fixtures Concord Metal Manufacturing Inc., Concord, ON, Canada
Retailer Canadian Tire Corp. Ltd., Toronto

The Tire Wall dedicates more space to tire selection than any other in the industry, 44 ft. x 15 ft. to be exact. Its imposing size, clear brand statement, and great location at the front of the store, where it can be seen from anywhere in the store, clearly conveys what this retailer is all about. In addition to an unmatched number of tire brands and applications, a tire catalog and brochures allow customers to order hundreds of styles assisted by clear signage and easy-to-assimilate information.

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Downtown Locker Room: Shoe Bar
Baltimore
Design Winntech, Kansas City, Mo.
Fixtures Winntech, Kansas City, Mo.
Photgraphy Winntech, Kansas City, Mo.
Retailer Downtown Locker Room, Hanover, Md.

Amazing, but true! In a Downtown Locker Room store, customers go to the shoe section to see and be seen. With this in mind, the manufacturer created a nightclub atmosphere with a functioning shoe bar; people belly up to the bar to order shoes. The shoes are illuminated from below like bottles of fine liquor and are displayed on glass towers resembling a downtown skyline. An employee sporting a wireless headset stays at the counter to radio orders for styles and sizes to the back of the store, where a runner fills the order for the shopper within moments.

Henry’s Marketplace: Produce Gondola
Costa Mesa, Calif.
Architecture Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, West Covina, Calif.
Design Design Forum, Dayton, Ohio
Fixtures Kent Store Fixture Inc., Hingham, Mass.
Fixtures Kysor-Warren, Conyers, Ga.
General Contracting RAS Builders, Norwalk, Calif.
Photgraphy Padgett & Co., Chicago
Retailer Wild Oats Markets Inc., Boulder, Colo.

The Produce Gondola in Henry’s Marketplace emphasizes the produce and reinforces the unique food shopping experience associated with Henry’s heritage as a roadside farmers’ market. Wooden crate-style fixtures maintain the authentic feel of a farmer’s market, while conduit piping adds a rustic touch. This cleanly merchandised prototype design, coupled with fixture signage that looks improvised, combines the authentic farmer’s market feel with a look that can be consistently rolled out.

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Holt Renfrew: Evening Handbag Wall
Toronto
Architecture Young & Wright Architects, Toronto
Design burdifilek, Toronto
Fixtures Unique Store Fixtures Ltd., Concord, ON, Canada
General Contracting PCL Constructors, Mississauga, ON, Canada
General Contracting Structure Corp., Toronto
Photgraphy A Frame, Toronto
Retailer Holt Renfrew & Co. Ltd., Toronto

Holt Renfrew’s evening handbag wall provides a unique and exquisite environment that differentiates the ultra-luxurious evening handbags displayed from average handbags. A hand-painted cherry tree mural framed in antique bronze is pressed behind opal star-fire glass to diffuse the image. The handbags are hung on custom glass bases secured by invisible joints. Lit by an MR-16 lighting system, the entire fixture appears to float.

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Holt Renfrew: Fine Jewelry Grouping
Toronto
Architecture Young & Wright Architects, Toronto
Design burdifilek, Toronto
Fixtures Unique Store Fixtures Ltd., Concord, ON, Canada
General Contracting PCL Constructors, Mississauga, ON, Canada
General Contracting Structure Corp., Toronto
Photgraphy A Frame, Toronto
Retailer Holt Renfrew & Co. Ltd., Toronto

The store fixtures in Holt Renfrew’s jewelry department support the retailer’s prestigious image. The fine jewelry department presents the collections under starfire glass on museum bases, with a backdrop of custom birch bark and alabaster finishes. The circular fixture is a custom shape, 22 ft. in diameter, and incorporates starfire glass and fiberoptic lighting with a hand-painted finish. The hanging fixture of brass mesh flowers designed by artisans were laser cut and assembled by hand.

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LCBO Summerhill Flagship Store: Concourse Angled Wall Fixture
Toronto
Design Fiorino Design Inc., Toronto
Fixtures Vic Store Fixtures Inc., Victoriaville, PQ, Canada
Fixtures Wallwood Construction Ltd., Richmond Hill, ON, Canada
Photgraphy David Whittaker Photographer Inc., Toronto
Retailer Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Toronto

The Concourse Angled Wall Fixture is one of many natural maple and beech fixtures in LCBO’s Summerhill Flagship Store. The clean-lined wood fixture lends substantial scale and a sense of tradition to the restoration, while the design of each wood fixture and the choice of illumination help differentiate the product offering. Wine and spirits are displayed in the winning gondola. Instead of opaque backdrops, translucent plexi panels glow with diffused illumination from T-5 fluorescents in vertical metal dividers. The elegant tiered and tapered design makes the fixturing less bulky, while the backlit shelving gives the merchandise the impression of floating on air.

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Mountain Adventure Centre: Equipment Rental Grouping
Whistler, BC, Canada
Design Square One Interiors Inc., Richmond, ON, Canada
Fixtures Kodama Woodworking Ltd., Vancouver, BC, Canada
General Contracting Intrawest Corp. at Whistler/Blackcomb, Whistler, BC, Canada
Photgraphy Roger Brooks Photgraphy, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Retailer Intrawest Corp. at Whistler/Blackcomb, Whistler, BC, Canada

The clean, simple design and colors of the store fixtures in Mountain Adventure’s equipment rental area evoke the imagery of youthful energy and freshness of the blue sky and snow and immediately identify the two featured brands, North Face and Atomic. The elliptical shape maximizes the functionality of the space and helps move the customer through the rental process, from waiver completion to bindings and boots adjustments through payment at the cashier. With two P-O-S stations—one for retail sales and one for rentals, the cash counter incorporates a place to hold skis while the customer pays.

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NIKE Pro Fixture
Various Locations
Design Twenty Four • Seven, Portland, Ore.
Fixtures The Carlson Group, Portland, Ore.
Fixtures Twenty Four • Seven, Portland, Ore.
Retailer Nike Inc., Beaverton, Ore.

The prototype NIKE Pro Fixture delivers a strong, masculine, visual impact with graphic scale rarely seen on a floor fixture. Its unique wave form incorporates a full suite of graphic communications and showcases Nike’s full range of product offerings. The powder-coated steel and etched acrylic fixture stands 82-1/2 in. wide, 36 in. deep, and 85-3/4 in. high. Created specifically for key athletic specialty accounts, this design is slated to appear in 200 to 400 stores next to competing lines.

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Palm Store Century City: Handheld Display Table
Los Angeles
Architecture Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects, Memphis, Tenn.
Design B&N Industries Inc., Burlingame, Calif.
Fixtures B&N Industries Inc., Burlingame, Calif.
Fixtures Cherner Chair Co., Westport,