New York, NY and Boston, MA – November 20, 2007 – Shawmut Design and Construction, an $800 million general contracting and construction management firm, together with Studio Sofield, a Manhattan-based studio design firm, brings custom design to a whole new realm with the 2007 completion of Tom Ford’s first store on Madison Avenue in Manhattan.
The 10,000 square foot luxury boutique was specially designed to mirror Tom Ford’s personal residence in London and was customized on nearly every element: Stones and all fixtures were imported from Italy, rare Macassar ebony was brought in from Africa, and the retail floor was made with hand-spun silk carpets and Belgian black marble flooring. The furniture pieces were all custom-designed by Studio Sofield and mesh flawlessly with the design of the boutique.
Major structural work had the team opening up a 20 x 20 square foot area in the ceiling to create an opening for an oval-shaped grand staircase as well as a three-stop velvet-lined elevator. Shawmut’s expertise in working seamlessly within an occupied building and minimizing the negative impacts the project has on the residents made for a smooth execution of the project, as the boutique is situated in an occupied residential building. Regular updates on work details and schedules were communicated to the landlords and residents to keep all parties aware of the status of the project.
A world-renowned fashion designer, Tom Ford gained international fame when he turned fashion around as creative director for luxury brands such as Gucci and Yves Saint-Laurent. His own high-end line needed nothing less than an intricately–designed home, and one fitting with the Madison Avenue address. Working within limited daily timeframes, the lush urban retail space in the heart of world-class shopping was completed on a fast-tracked schedule in just 20 weeks.
Shawmut’s New York-based Retail Business has worked for some of the most prominent and recognizable brands across the world including Chanel, Longchamp, Louis Vuitton, Puma, Apple, and DeBeers.
