On October 10, 2007, Tiffany & Co. opened 37 Wall Street, its most highly anticipated new emporium to date, with a much publicized, star-studded breakfast event. The opening of its doors at 10 a.m. signified history coming full-circle for both the legendary jewelry and luxury goods retailer and the richly historic Financial District surrounding it. Tiffany & Co.'s return to lower Manhattan was a total affirmation of the revitalization of Downtown Manhattan as both a center of finance and emerging upscale residential area. Moreover, it marked the first time in the opulent retailer's history there would be a second location in Manhattan.
The meticulous build-out of the 11,000 s/f store, with its ornate 35-foot high ceilings and custom glass and millwork, was completed by ACC Construction, New York's leading WBE construction management and general contracting firm. The flawless completion of a build-out with such complexity and sheer beauty made 37 Wall Street the ultimate jewel in the firm's metaphorical crown.
"Nothing in the history of ACC compares to this majestic project," said Michele Medaglia, president & CEO of ACC Construction. "It was an extraordinary team effort. Everyone from James Galvin, our director of operations who spearheaded the project, to our amazing client Tiffany & Co. and award-winning designers and architects Yabu Pushelberg and Ted Moudis Associates, as well as the engineering firm M. Chetrit Consulting, worked together seamlessly. It was an experience of a lifetime."
A Relationship Built on Trust
ACC's relationship with Tiffany & Co. began with the impeccable build-out of the mezzanine floor of the luxury brand's New York flagship on Fifth Ave. and 57th St. Shortly after the completion of that successful project, Tiffany awarded ACC two challenging and complex projects: the build-out of the historic Wall Street location and the renovation of its beautiful 4,500 s/f White Plains store at the Westchester Mall.
Raising the Retail Bar on Wall Street
But as significant as these Tiffany & Co. projects had been, nothing could compare to the excitement and challenge of the Wall Street space. Tremendous buzz and press anticipation was such that the finished product had to be perfect and completed within a fast-tracked eight months.
And so, on a Wednesday morning, shortly after Tiffany & Co. rang the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange, hundreds of glamorous patrons, politicians, civic leaders and an international press corps gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony -- then entered the emporium that ACC built.
"Our team was ready to do whatever it took to get the job done and to stand by our word in the process" said Galvin. "We kept our cards on the table, identified the challenges and overcame them."
Together, this dedicated group worked 24/7 identifying the unique designs from Yabu Pushelberg and extracting each perfectly laid out detail in architectural plans by Ted Moudis Associates. But key to the success of the project was their collective ability to work with their client and deliver phenomenal results.
"From the beginning, ACC made it crystal clear that this was far more than just another project for them," said Philip Bottega, AIA, vice president of Real Estate Services Worldwide for Tiffany & Co. "They treated us as if we were their only clients; always one step ahead of us, anticipating details even before we did. We were always aware of their commitment and, frankly, this store has raised the bar higher than we could have ever imagined."
Pristine Final Product
The unparalleled results, the product of a multi-team effort that also included a pro-active and accommodating landlord, Skyline Developers, LLC., have made Tiffany & Co. Wall Street the most talked about, exclusive retail venue in all of Manhattan.
"This was a successful project," said Ted Moudis, AIA, senior principal at Ted Moudis Associates. "Tiffany & Co. put together a great team, between ACC Construction as construction manager, design architect Yabu Pushelberg and ourselves at Ted Moudis Associates as Interior Architect. It was a tough framework, but teamwork made it happen."
The Wall Street Tiffany & Co. store comprised the restoration of the former headquarters of Trust of America Bank, a circa 1907 building with press-mold ceilings, marble columns and ornate capitals. ACC's mission was to bring these original details back to museum quality and, concurrently, interpret and execute the contemporary designs while adhering to stringent regulations for State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) buildings.
The newly completed interiors are breathtaking, crowned by a 75 ft. mesh and crystal sculpture by artist Ingo Maurer, which veritably floats 35 feet above the store in multiple, separate sections. The design also called for the fabrication and installation of an enormous and elegant curved glass and stainless steel center staircase, as well as custom Starphire Glass partitions and freestanding showcases, three-story elevator shaft and ornate millwork. Each of the glass pieces, manufactured primarily in Canada, had to be perfectly measured, detailed and assembled. The intricacy of the detailing required frequent trips to Canada by the ACC project team and architects to coordinate directly with the factory supervisors and craftsman.
"Tiffany wanted us to create an interior complement to a historic envelope and respect it in a contemporary way within a unique volume of space," describes Glenn Pushelberg, principal of the world-renowned architectural design firm Yabu Pushelberg, on his role in the project. "Tiffany's always chooses the best people around and ACC was meticulous, dependable and organized."
It has already been said by several major news sources that the overall experience of the space must be viewed multiple times to appreciate the myriad facets in the floating crystals, glass and marble. It is a space that exemplifies a literal foundation for the exquisite Tiffany jewels and luxury goods inside.
When the Smallest Details are Everything
ACC Construction has long been known for its ability to fast-track projects while exceeding clients' expectations with the finished products. But each exclusive project raises the bar and has been instrumental in bringing ACC Construction to new levels of expertise. Today's corporate structure at ACC is more reflective of a Fortune 500 company, and certainly atypical of mid-size construction firms. Theirs is a credo of superior customer service matched by none.
"What sets ACC Construction apart from our competition is the level of aggressive helpfulness we provide our clients," said Medaglia. "Our commitment to service is more reflective of another era when your word was your bond and consistent successful results earned trust."
In addition to Tiffany & Co., the award-winning firm has worked on high profile projects for organizations such as Swig Equities, SL Green, L&L Holdings, Grubb & Ellis, W&H Properties, Newmark Knight Frank, Arbitron and Commerce Bank.
The Future of ACC Construction
The success of Tiffany & Co. Wall Street is a product of a dedicated and experienced senior management team. The combination of the extremely visible projects for Tiffany & Co., along with a history of highly touted work have been instrumental in bringing ACC into a class of its own - a boutique firm with a Fortune 500 culture that lives and breathes customer service.
The firm's unique level of service has been achieved through a core group of executives who bring with them experience in the construction industry, as well as corporate backgrounds focused on customer service, accountability and trust. Together, they are the future of ACC Construction. Tags: