A.C. Special Projects (ACSP) Ltd. has supplied a bespoke truss grid and flying system for Nike's new concept store in Westfield Stratford City, London's latest flagship retail destination and one of the largest shopping centres in the UK.
The 17,000 square metre Nike store showcases the latest innovations in professional sports and casual footwear from the brand and is situated in an impressive double-storey glass fronted outlet.
Nike Europe's Retail Design Director Greg Stobbs, who created the look and feel of the interior, wanted to maximise the space as a versatile display area. Due to its layout, a substantial and unique atrium space was available reaching three metres back from the front façade, with eight metres of headroom.
Greg envisaged a truss grid that could be moved up and down for easy and safe accessibility and quick changeovers, that would look contemporary, attractive and quirky as well as being a practical support system for various displays to be hung below.
Prior to this project, ACSP installed three truss grids above the escalators at the flagship Niketown store in London's Oxford Circus during its refurbishment in 2010. When the new concept store received the green light ACSP were approached again to provide a solution by Nike Europe's Neil van den Dungen, who oversees all Nike's in-house store development projects.
ACSP Technical Manager, Dave Cowan, liaised with Neil van den Dungen - who is based overseas in Nike Europe's HQ in The Netherlands - and local architects Child Graddon Lewis (CGL) in Spitalfields. The equipment was installed by Independent Studio Services on behalf of ACSP.
The technical brief stated that the truss grid must be flexible and have a substantial weight loading capacity. ACSP specified six Columbus McKinnon (CM) ProStar half-tonne motors with double brakes to lift the 24ft section of Prolyte 30HD truss, which is the standard 48mm size of trussing.
A motor controller was supplied as part of the package, which was set up to be easily and safely operated by store managers as required.
ACSP added four cable de-reelers to the spec. for dispensing cable in the event of lights etc. being rigged to the truss grid
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They also had 35 custom black wire mesh panels manufactured which cover the underside of the truss and can also be used to aid the flying of objects beneath it.
The end results were fantastic with Nike being “very happy” with the system.
ACSP's Dave Cowan comments, “It has been a pleasure working with Nike to create this magnificent retail display system. ACSP continue to work with various industry sectors including education, theatre, performance and retail, helping to bring bespoke concepts from design to life.”
Currently hung from the truss grid is a spectacular ‘shoebox chandelier' artwork created with multiple, differently configured strings of bright orange shoeboxes.
For more information about A.C. Special Projects Ltd., please contact:
A.C. Special Projects Ltd.
+44 (0)1494 838392
www.acspecialprojects.com