Engineers supporting the visions and finding solutions to the challenges of the retail industry

Engineering is a service business and a technical trade. Engineering for retail clients creates a unique set of challenges. In retail, the aesthetic appeal is important for gaining customers' interest and providing an enjoyable experience. Interior designers and architects have a vision for the space and the task of mechanical/electrical engineers is to facilitate the design. For the retailers, the priority is given to the interior design of the space to appeal to customers. Engineers serving the retail sector must be conscientious that their technical design supports the aesthetic specifications. Thus, properly selecting the elements of the system which bolster the designer's idea is paramount. Within the retail space, additional emphasis is placed on lighting, intricate ceiling lines, and clean finishes. For instance, many retail architects prefer to add supplemental rows of sprinkler heads in order to align them with the lighting pattern of the ceiling. In many cases, air distribution devices need to be hidden or custom built within lighting coves, soffits and millwork so as not to create unnecessary elements in the clean lines of the ceiling. Additionally, the lighting fixtures become more sophisticated. With the latest emphasis on LEED design and energy savings, many lighting designers and manufacturers devise creative ideas to provide high lighting levels while maximizing energy efficiency. At the same time, the design of the systems needs to be done within the client's budget and efficiency of operations. A special challenge is added when the client wishes to renovate vital base building systems, while remaining open for business. Department stores that have been in their current buildings for decades are facing the need to renovate and modernize their systems and space designs. Many times this includes renovation of their major mechanical and electrical systems. For Glickman Engineering Associates (GEA), this challenge presented itself when our long-term luxury-retail client decided to completely renovate their basement from a shipping/receiving department into a cosmetics retail plaza. All major systems including building steam heating, sanitary and storm drainage, electrical feeders and sprinkler mains were running through the basement at low elevations. All of these systems needed to be rerouted in order to provide high ceiling conditions for the interior designers. For that purpose, designated mechanical excess spaces were created around the perimeter of the basement floor for relocation of these services. All of this was done successfully while the other ten retail floors remained open for business throughout the entire construction process. We assisted the client in providing the same luxurious and pleasant experience their customers had come to expect. Making the entire renovation process unnoticeable to customers, whether that includes changing one of the vital systems in the building or adding elevators/ escalators to an operating facility, is especially important for engineers servicing retailers. A trend in the retail industry that affects engineers is the inclusion of dining facilities within department stores. Keeping customers in the store for longer periods of time is paramount to the overall sales of retailers. Combining the shopping and dining experience provides another dimension to servicing the customers' needs. One of our other long-term retail clients decided to add cafes and restaurants to several floors in their multi-story building. The full-service restaurant was completely renovated and additional dining facilities were added to the contemporary women's floor and to the designers floor. A dessert café was added to yet another floor. The dining facilities were designed within an open floor plan setting amidst the sales merchandise. This presented GEA with a new set of challenges since it was necessary to keep the odor of food contained within the dining space, unaffecting the sales areas. Designing the optimal air circulation and exhaust systems was the solution to accomplishing the goal. The food facilities needed to be kept under negative pressure. Therefore, additional exhaust systems were added to the food preparation areas. We also added several air purification systems that were able to clean the air and then recirculate this air back to the air conditioning systems. This accomplished another goal which was to conserve energy. The ever-evolving styles in retail aesthetic design require engineers to be forward-thinking, innovative, and open-minded in supporting the visions of the retail clients. Whether providing services for multi-million s/f shopping mall facilities, big-box retailers, or designer and specialty boutiques, GEA has extensive knowledge and experience of the engineering elements required for each type of retail application. Ella Malkin, P.E., is a principal at Glickman Engineering Associates, PPLC, New York, N.Y.