Lululemon Athletica & Kenneth Park Architect Open Green Outlet in SoHo
Even as we continue to monitor the chaos in the green commercial real estate market, there is still some pretty neat sustainable stuff happening in the local commercial interiors space. Lululemon Athletica, the Vancouver-based activewear retailer, recently opened its fourth store here in Manhattan at 481 Broadway in SoHo (between Grand and Broome). Designed by Kenneth Park Architect, the fitout of the 2670-square-foot store incorporated a variety of green design features consonant with Lulemon’s mission statement: “creating components for people to live a longer, healthier, more fun life.”
Though this particular outpost is not pursuing LEED certification, Lululemon has announced that all of its future stores will seek LEED ratings. Kenneth Park specified efficient lighting throughout the space and the store’s floor was made from recycled Douglas Fir beams, finished with a low-VOC oil stain. The design takes advantage of natural daylighting with large interior skylights, an oversized glass storefront, and orange walls that reflect light as it penetrates into the interior. Benjamin Moore Eco-Spec paint- which is both GREENGUARD- and Green Seal-certified – was used throughout, in addition to low-VOC sealants. The store also doubles as a yoga studio, benefiting from the wood floors that help temper the heat and humidity created by each class.
The store was fitted out by Citadel Construction- no stranger to LEED for Commercial Interiors Projects; the firm built the National Audubon Society’s LEED-CI Platinum offices at 225 Varick Street, as well as WSP Flack + Kurtz’ offices at 512 Seventh Avenue, which is pursuing LEED-CI Gold. Lululemon’s is the second green retail project we’ve come across in SoHo recently; we noted previously that Eastern Mountain Sports will open an outlet with green design features at the corner of Spring and Broadway this coming May.
- Lululemon
- Lululemon Store Review – SoHo (LB)
- Citadel Construction (gbNYC)
Category: Design, Green Building, Green Construction, Green Retail, LEED-CI, Most Recent, New York City
