This facility is the creative hub for EXPRESS. Located in the Ladies’ Mile Historic District on 5th Avenue in Manhattan – the building dates from the turn of the century. The design studio was constructed in multiple phases – ultimately filling 37,500 square feet over two complete floors.

The facility serves a broad range of functions. The majority of the space serves as open work area for the various teams developing clothing for EXPRESS. Other functions include executive offices, a prototype sample production facility, a public relations showroom and offices, temporary offices for visiting staff, a training room, conference rooms and a large “tableau” room used for presentations.

With space at a premium and the occupancy varying widely – this project required a careful balancing of very specific requirements (nuanced to the point of issues like the difference in storage requirements for knit samples vs. denim) and the need for flexibility (during presentations an additional 100 people or more will be on hand). Considerations in the programming and design phases ranged from orchestrating the ongoing delivery of material to the image presented to visiting fashion editors.

The studio ultimately became the centerpiece of a marketing campaign for the brand.

A principal of GRA+D architects was primarily responsible for the programming, design, construction documents and administration for this project while employed by Acock Associates Architects. This project is reproduced here with their permission.