Chain Store Age celebrates the winners of its 27th annual store design competition, which attracted entries from around the world. Luxury department store company Neiman Marcus was honored as the best overall concept, Retail Store of the Year, for its Atlanta showplace.

In addition, there were 33 first-place awards and 12 honorable-mention awards in the various categories, along with two special awards.

The judges for this year’s competition were Steven Derwood, principal, RYA Design Consultancy, New York City; Ali Van Horn, Principal, Ali B Designs, Hunter, N.Y.; Vincent Jacobellis, principal, callison, New York City; Sue Nicgorski, director, T.L.Martin & Associates, Wayne, N.J.; and Glenn Trunley, VP of design Loehmann’s, Glen Ridge, N.J. (Jundges whose firms submitted entries did not vote in the respective category.)

All of the winning projects are profiled in this special section. All received first-place awards except where noted. Additional photos, and a list of the key resources and project personnel for each project can be viewed at www.chainstoreage.com

International – Food Service/Mass Merchant

Ole’

Shenzhen,

China Design : rkd retail/iQ, Bangkok

A modern design supports the upscale and lifestyle positioning of Ole’ Artistic photography and locally inspired fine art is featured in select locations throughout the 56,424-sq.-ft. supermarket, enhancing the ever all architecture. The store is divided into merchandise world, with each area claiming its own material palette. Dry grocery is supported by simple color theme of dark grey with neutral wayfing ing graphic of black and white. The overall lighting concept uses a variety of sources, including indirect, internally illuminated and general illumination, to create a dramatic lighting effect that emphasizes the volume of ceiling height and depth throughout the space.