PUMA flagship store in New York City: steel-and-glass design

PUMA Flagship Store in New York City made by seele.

390sqm

steel-and-glass construction

approx. 30t

steelwork

157sqm

all-glass design

steel-and-glass construction for the PUMA flagship store on 5th avenue

In August 2019, the sports and fashion brand PUMA opened a new flagship store in New York City that extends over two floors. For seele this is already the 7th project on New York’s famous 5th Avenue. The façade construction of the retail store includes two different types: The upper floor is a suspended steel-and-glass construction supported by a horizontal beam against wind loads above the ground floor façade.

It is divided into 54 square units, each with four triangular insulating glass units protruding approx. 10cm from the façade level. Due to the inclination of the glass and silkscreen printing backlit with LEDs, the elements form a star-shaped pattern.

The horizontal beam also forms the upper bearing for the ground floor façade, which ends at ground level in the lower area. It is designed as a large all-glass construction with insulating glass units of almost 4m height and vertical silicone joints.

The scope of work also includes the entrance area, consisting of a vestibule with two double-leaf glass doors and a canopy.

After the contract was awarded in October 2018, planning, production and assembly were carried out by seele within only nine months.

Reference overview and header image: © PUMA

PUMA Flagship Store made by seele — © PUMA

PUMA Flagship Store in steel-and-glass made by seele — © PUMA

Steel-and-glass and all-glass design for the new PUMA store on 5th Avenue made by seele — © PUMA

Triangular glass units for the PUMA store in New York by seele — © PUMA

High degree of prefabrication for smooth assembly

In order to carry out the assembly on site as smoothly and in as straightforward a manner as possible, the entire façade construction was based on a high degree of prefabrication. All 54 square steel frames for the façade were combined to form 18 steel ladders with three elements each. From the steel construction to the glazing, the elements were completely manufactured and assembled so that the approx. 8m long steel ladders could be hung directly on site. The steel construction for the vestibule was also transported to the construction site in only four individual parts.

After welding, the surface of the steel frame was precisely finished, as the frames are also visible inside the shop after installation.

The steel ladders after glazing and sealing: The star-shaped pattern is clearly recognizable.

For light tests at different times of the day, seele also built a mock-up in Gersthofen which shows one of the square façade elements.

Credits

Client	PUMA North America, Inc.
Main contractor	Shawmut Design and Construction
Architect	Design Republic Partners Architects, LLP
Engineer	Eckersley O‘Callaghan, Severud
Date of completion	2019
Scope of work by seele	390sqm upper façade, consisting of 18 rectangular steel-and-glass elements, 2.67 x 8.01m each Comprising all in all 216 triangular IGUs (2 x 6mm, 12mm interspace and 1 x 6mm), each IGU measuring 2.67 x 1.27m, partially with frit 157sqm ground floor façade 16 IGUs (build up: 1 x 10mm and 1 x 12mm; 12mm interspace) each IGU measuring 2.67 x 3.65m approx . 30t steelwork 99sqm vestibule in entrance area with two double leaf glass doors and canopy 7sqm visual mock up in Gersthofen (2.6 x 2.6m
Awards	Silver Award DRIVENxDESIGN 2020