The lighting for Vera Wang’s 2000 SF, Manhattan boutique derives from the changing qualities of a white-box theater. With a 23’-0” tall, dynamic, loft-like experience in the front salon and a light infused, layered experience in the windowless, 8’-6” high, rear salon, the lighting creates a unique shopping experience that invites shoppers to descend the mid-stage stairs and explore. Custom extruded ceiling slots house two multi-circuit tracks for controlling and hanging motorized theatrical equipment and architectural AR111 spotlights. Fluorescent backlighting dramatically floats Corian steps and translucent acrylic display platforms. Perimeter floor troughs with fluorescents and color-changing LEDs beneath translucent resin “knit” together the two salons. These occasionally change hue to complement the designer’s collection. Concealed color-changing LEDs graze the wall in the main salon.

The rear salon floor trough subtly echoes the blue in the upper wall. The back walls glow from concealed fluorescent coves. Creating layers, translucent shelving walls slide along recessed ceiling tracks. that also house air diffusers. The rear fitting rooms are conceived as translucent floating volumes with a daylight quality. With no visible fixtures, linear LEDs concealed at the base and top of the glass wall-cavities combine with dimmable fluorescent behind the mirror to create soft, flattering light- resembling sun through a canvas umbrella. The lighting was carefully aimed to illuminate only the merchandise, avoiding spill onto the translucent display shelving and walls. Discrete accent lights appear carved into the ceiling, and are organized in clusters, allowing aiming angles of less than 15-degrees, assuring no glare for shoppers. Housed in a landmarked, residential building, the accelerated, 6-month design, and 6-month construction schedule, although challenging, was overcome.

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