Home improvement How does a conservative home furnishings retailer compete in a retail world revolutionized by branding, imagery and lifestyle statements? Ask Havertys. The 115-year-old retailer targeted younger, more contemporary shoppers with its new signature store at the Mall of Georgia. In the category of New or Renovated Specialty Stores (over 5,000 sq. ft.), Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates received an honorable mention for its design work on the project.
As Havertys' first mall anchor store, the project needed to appeal to destination shoppers hunting for furniture as well as mall browsers lured in by home accessories. The location of the store on the mall's second level allowed for a two-story exterior entrance that creates a dominant architectural statement.
The store's interior revolves around an oval path, reflected by a dropped ceiling treatment occasionally interrupted by circular forms that punctuate strike zones - points of rest used to showcase special merchandise. The retailer places great emphasis on its quality of customer service and wanted that emphasis to read clearly in the store design. Therefore, the customer service center is designed to be a peaceful oasis from a hectic day of shopping. Leather and woodgrain finishes are used to evoke a warm and comfortable residential feel.
AWARD RECIPIENT THOMPSON, VENTULETT, STAINBACK & ASSOCIATES Atlanta * tvsa.com J. Thomas Porter (senior principal); Mark Carter (principal/studio principal); Jessica Marro (associate/senior project interior designer); Naray Morgan and Zoe Rawlins (designers)
CLIENT HAVERTYS FURNITURE COS. INC. Atlanta Product Manufacturers/Suppliers: Hardin Construction Group Inc., Atlanta (general contractor); Carter DeGolian, Smyrna, Ga. (finish contractor); Huie Design, Atlanta (graphic design); Theo Kondos Associates, New York (lighting consultants); E&S Construction Engineers (engineers); ICI Paints, Chamblee, Ga. (paint); AWPC, Mableton, Ga. (laminates, veneers); Wilsonart International, Decatur, Ga. (laminates, veneers); Shaw Commercial Carpets, Atlanta (sales floor and office carpet); Amtico International Inc., Atlanta (sales area flooring); Williams Marble and Tile, Smyrna, Ga. (terrazzo at atrium and mall entrance); Ceramic Techniques Ltd., Alpharetta, Ga. (bathroom tile); Dula Wright, Charlotte, N.C. (handrail); Modular Walls, Cave City, Ky. (visual displays); Grafika, Troy, Mich. (graphics and signage fabricator); Architectural Signing Inc., Norcross, Ga. (exterior graphics and signage); Forms and Surfaces, Carpinteria, Calif. (door hardware); USG Interiors, West Lake, Ohio (ceiling system)