Nordstrom teases New Yorkers with a glimpse of the future
Nordstrom revealed dramatic plans for a massive and elaborate flagship in Manhattan designed to wow residents of a city accustomed to the best retailers have to offer.
The approximately 363,000-sq.-ft. store will encompass four individual properties in the Columbus Circle neighborhood of Manhattan, along Broadway between West 57th and West 58th Streets. Slated to open in 2019, it will be the retailer’s second largest store to date (the largest, at 383,000 sq. ft., is in its Seattle hometown).
The properties include both existing, historic buildings as well as new construction, which will be at the base of Central Park Tower. The interiors of three of the properties will be connected, while the fourth will be located across Broadway and house a Nordstrom Men’s store annex.
The new construction will feature a striking and unusual exterior that features “unique seven-level glass waveforms façades” designed to catch the light as the sun angles shift from morning to evening, and throughout the seasons. The forms will also provide an interactive viewing experience for customers inside the store and for those outside at street level, creating views up and down the streets while selectively displaying the activity within the store. The exterior will be created by New York-based James Carpenter Design Associates, whose past projects include Gucci’s acclaimed flagship in Tokyo, which has a multi-dimensional glass facade.
“From within, you can step into the waveforms and experience the dramatic views up and down the street while simultaneously, from outside, your presence humanizes the façades,” said James Carpenter.
In addition, Nordstrom will restore or rebuild the street level façades of the other buildings to evoke their original historic design.
"We're building in the context of the world's greatest stores in the best retail city in the world and our ambition is to create an entire experience that reflects the best of what we have to offer," said Pete Nordstrom, co-president, Nordstrom. "We think the modern exterior glass design combined with the historical renovations honor both the past and future of Manhattan.”
In a Women’s Wear Daily report, Nordstrom said the Manhattan flagship will be “by far” the company’s most expensive store ever built, and also the company’s highest-volume store.
Here is a breakout of the four properties that will make up the store:
• Central Park Tower: Customers will be able to shop retail space located on seven levels, with two below street-level and five above. A seven-level atrium at the heart of the building, also designed by James Carpenter, highlights the escalators connecting each floor. Entrances are located on both West 57th Street and West 58th Street.
Central Park Tower portion is approximately 292,000 sq. ft., and the developer is Extell Development Co.
• Columbus Circle (formerly the 1790 Broadway building): This portion is approximately 8,000 sq. ft. of street-level retail space with an entrance located on Broadway that connects to the main store. Nordstrom will rebuild the street-level façade of this landmark building to evoke its original historic design.
This section is owned by 1790 Broadway Associates.
• 1776 Broadway: Nordstrom will occupy four floors of retail space totaling approximately 20,000 sq. ft. of this building, which sits on the corner of West 57th Street and Broadway.
This portion is owned by ULM Holding Corp.
• 3 Columbus Circle – Located just across Broadway, 3 Columbus Circle is approximately 43,000 sq. ft. of retail space on three levels with two entrances – one on West 57th Street and the other on Broadway. It will house the Nordstrom Men's store.
SL Green and The Moinian Group are the owners of this portion.
The restoration and rebuilding design work for the façades of 3 Columbus Circle, 5 Columbus Circle, 1780 Broadway and 1776 Broadway is being done by CallisonRTKL.