Meatpacking District was selected as the first US location for new design scheme
New York, NY – September 5, 2008 – Shawmut Design and Construction (www.shawmut.com), a leading national construction management firm, continues its reputation as a trusted builder for European luxury brands with the opening of Moschino’s new flagship located in New York City. In collaboration with Milan-based architects Vudafieri Partners and Mariotti Studio, and interior design firm DeuxL, Shawmut has completed the new boutique at 401 W. 14th Street in the heart of New York City’s fashionable Meatpacking District.
The first United States store built in this design scheme for Moschino brings to life the luxury designer’s fairy tale theme and signature heart motif for the “classic-with-a-twist” apparel. Upon opening the heart-shaped front door handle, Moschino’s world-class flagship presents a luminous showcase of classic fixtures, reimagined to resemble surrealistic flora and fauna. Traditional Plexiglas teardrop light fittings are shaped into hearts which rain down over the boutique, and an iridescent Lurex rug embellished with plant and animal imagery creates a warm contrast to the cool, white marble floor. Shawmut coordinated with Italian designers to install abstract floral prints, printed in Italy, on the white lacquered walls. Stainless steel is another key element in the store’s design and was incorporated into tree-shaped display stands, from which hang “fruit”: Moschino’s clothing lines, Moschino, Moschino Cheap and Chic, Love Moschino, and Moschino Uomo as well as shoes, accessories and fragrance. A Shawmut-coordinated expert metal fabricator helped orchestrate steel installation, including stainless steel heart outlines that were inlaid into floor tiles in Italy, and shipped to the site for installation. Other custom details illustrate the designer’s sophisticated-meets-whimsical nature: red slipper chairs with stuffed felt hearts adorn the boutique, and jewelry cases are shaped like gigantic diamond rings. The 40-foot storefront will be used to display a different fanciful, creative message to rotate every few months in the style of Moschino’s Milan boutique.
The former Quality Meats butcher shop presented the project team with unique challenges. After years of heavy use, the butcher shop floor was uneven and unusable. Meticulous reconstruction readied the floor for a new finish with the building of a new subfloor underneath white composite stone.
The new flagship exemplifies international luxury brands’ continuing appreciation for Shawmut’s precise, innovative construction management services even through the tenuous economy. With its first location for Moschino, Shawmut takes an even bigger bite out of the Big Apple’s luxury retail market. Other Shawmut-built flagships decorating the city include Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Graff Diamonds, Ivanka Trump Diamonds, Van Cleef & Arpels, PUMA, Nokia, Juicy Couture, NHL Powered by Reebok, Louis Vuitton, Tom Ford, Ermenegildo Zegna, Anne Fontaine, Chopard, Longchamp, Helio, Karen Millen and Apple.
About Shawmut Design and Construction
Shawmut Design and Construction is a 100% employee-owned company headquartered in Boston with offices in New York, Providence, Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and New Haven. Shawmut is a leading ENR top 100-ranked national construction management firm providing client-oriented services in the following markets: Academic, Commercial, Corporate Interiors, Cultural and Historic Preservation, Healthcare and Science, Gaming, Restaurants, Retail, Spas and Health Clubs. For more information, visit Shawmut’s website at www.shawmut.com.
