Schimenti Builds First Athleta Store In New York City For Gap
Ridgefield, CT - Gap, the specialty-clothing retailer with five major brands and over 3,200 stores around the world, tapped Schimenti Construction to build the company’s flagship Athleta store in New York City.
The store, which features ultimate performance apparel and gear for the active woman, is located in a landmark building on Columbus Avenue, in Manhattan. The 3,922 square foot store was completed in just thirteen weeks from start to opening.
The warm rustic brick and wood décor reflects the Athleta brand, which markets apparel for active women who are committed yogini to fiercely driven competitive athletes. The Schimenti project team, working closely with Athleta’s design team, overcame significant project obstacles and challenges. The landmark building storefront had to be reconditioned and the entire project was within an occupied residential building. This meant maintaining a strictly monitored work schedule while minimizing any possible disruptions for building residents.
In addition, the construction team had to coordinate new M/E/P systems within very tight ceiling spaces while keeping the structural integrity of the landmark building intact. The store, designed by Phillips Partnership, an Altanta-based architectural firm, has three specific sections - yoga, running and exploring - and offers in-store fitness lectures, yoga and Zumba classes.
Athleta was founded in 1998 and was acquired by Gap Inc. in 2008. Gap brands currently include Gap (including Gap, GapKids, babyGap, GapBody), Banana Republic, Old Navy and Piperlime as well as Athleta. The San Francisco-based company was founded in 1969 and currently has more than 134,000 employees around the world.
Schimenti Construction, headquartered in Ridgefield with offices in New York City, has built a strong reputation in the retail construction industry and has developed a solid niche in urban construction. The firm builds retail-shopping environments for some of the nations leading retailers including Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, Fossil, GAP, Hollister, Kohl’s, REI, Target, and TJ Maxx.
