BOSTON – Shawmut Design and Construction announced the completion of Uniqlo in Faneuil Hall in Boston. Shawmut worked with the contemporary LifeWear brand to combine Boston tradition with modern design and create the first-ever retail store in the historic Quincy Market building and Uniqlo flagship in the city.
Construction of the 12,400 square-foot multi-level store included a comprehensive demolition of the space, coordination of a new storefront at the first level, wood cladding on the ceilings, and extensive built-in casework. The team installed a one-of-a-kind granite staircase and coordinated a custom flying mannequin display, which required additional structural steel for support. The team also put in all new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems throughout the space.
To incorporate Uniqlo’s modern aesthetic into the 190-year-old building, black design elements were combined with existing brick and granite, resulting in a design unique to this location. Original exposed brick, granite piers, and original wood ceiling trusses were all historic elements that were protected or enhanced as part of the construction.
“This latest Uniqlo completion is a testament to Shawmut’s ability to modernize a historic building while maintaining its authenticity,” said Les Hiscoe, CEO of Shawmut. “The team worked carefully to ensure the building’s foundation was stabilized in order to support all of the unique features of the store, which takes up the whole west wing of Quincy Market.”
Over the past four years, Shawmut has built more than 20 Uniqlo locations with this one marking the Japanese retailer’s first specialty store in Boston, featuring designer collaborations that aren’t available at suburban stores. This project represents the latest in Shawmut’s retail work, with recent completions including Saint Laurent in New York, Tom Ford in Miami, and Louis Vuitton in Los Angeles.
