A rendering of the glass-wrapped top three floors of the Tiffany & Co. flagship renovation
Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. has revealed exterior renderings of the transformation underway at its Fifth Avenue flagship store. The top three floors of the 10-story landmark building at 727 Fifth Avenue will be “completely reimagined,” from office space originally constructed in 1980, into a new exhibition, event and entertainment space, the New York-based luxury jewelry brand said in a statement Monday.
According to the renderings, the top three floors will be surrounded by a glass curtain, with the interior lighting seemingly showing a combination the signature Tiffany blue color along with clear glass. There will be a terrace on the eighth floor. The drawings are in stark contrast with the historic limestone façade of the building. Its objective is to join the history of the 182-year old company with a look into its future.
A street view of how the three-story glass structure will change the appearance of Tiffany & Co.’s … [+]
Tiffany & Co.
“The Tiffany & Co. Fifth Avenue flagship is arguably one of the most beloved and well known luxury retail spaces in the world. It’s a place where so many have memories of important moments in their lives, filled with emotion and anticipation of the extraordinary,” Reed Krakoff, Chief Artistic Officer, Tiffany & Co., said in a statement. “Tiffany’s newly transformed flagship will reflect the future of our brand, while honoring our 183-year legacy.”
The renovation is being led by The Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), with Partner Shohei Shigematsu, leading the project, including the upper addition.
Tiffany & Co.’s New York flagship renovation is expected to be completed in Spring 2022
Tiffany & Co.
“Tiffany’s Fifth Avenue flagship is more than a retail space; it is a destination with a public dimension,” Shigematsu said. “The new addition is informed by programmatic needs of the evolving brand—a gathering place that acts as a contemporary counterpart to the iconic ground level space and its activities. The floating volume over a terrace provides a clear visual cue to a vertical journey of diverse experiences throughout the building.”
Shigematsu adds that the glass façade will be set back a bit (making room for the terrace), which will provide both continuity with the existing structure while it stands out as something distinct and new.
“The eye is drawn upward creating a gentle transition between the two structures,” said Shigematsu. “This ribbon-like design detail brings a sensuality to the building, instilling a softness among the curtain walls of the building’s neighbors. The recessed glass exhibition and event space will echo the feeling of the main floor with its column free, double height ceilings.”
Construction began on Tiffany’s flagship transformation in spring 2019 and is estimated to be completed in spring 2022. The renovation was originally planned to be finished in the fourth quarter of 2021. However, the company in an August 20 8-K SEC filing said construction was delayed due to a temporary halt of all non-essential construction activity in New York City during the initial coronavirus pandemic outbreak. The company also cited other unspecified COVID-19 related issues in the SEC filing.
The retail sales floor and offices are have been relocated to a building next door during the construction. It is by far the largest renovation project that the building has undergone since the luxury retailer first occupied the space in 1940.