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 – Hard Lines
(greater than 15,000 sq. ft.)
Honorable Mention
SB Design Square
Phuket, Thailang
Design : rkd retail/IQ Bangkok

Sophisticated and modern resort themes are mixed with simple materials and details to create a signatures architecture that supports SB Design Square’s brand positioning as a leading contemporary living – solutions provider in its marketplace , General category areas or showrooms are an chored by focal walls, while specific statements are made in showrooms and on cat walks, Beyond the room settings, special attention was pain to the main open atrium space that features a sculptural frame work to highlight spedfic product categories and seasonal and style themes.