Beauty and the beach The sophisticated, resort atmosphere of Neiman Marcus Ala Moana is an irresistible siren song to moneyed Japanese and American tourists who crave luxury merchandise and service. In the category of New or Renovated Department Stores, Diedrich/Niles Bolton Associates received an honorable mention for its design work on the store.
The three-story building is clad with a textured stucco and natural stone wall finish and three distinct elements capped by a Dickey roof, named after a turn-of-the-century architect who drew upon traditional island forms for larger commercial buildings. The three pavilion-like roof elements are separated by stepped, landscaped terraces covered with native bougainvillea.
The entrance level of the store is on a structured deck with above-grade level parking. The building is wrapped with a traditional roofed loggia that humanizes the building scale and provides weather protection. This element is expanded on the western elevation into a porte cochere that provides covered drop-off, pick-up and valet service. Local artists were commissioned to create art to be integrated with the store's interior architecture.
AWARD RECIPIENT DIEDRICH/NILES BOLTON ASSOCIATES Atlanta Richard J. Diedrich, AIA (principal-in-charge); Thomas F. Williams, AIA (project manager)
CLIENT NEIMAN MARCUS GROUP Dallas Product Manufacturers/Suppliers: Niles Bolton Landscape Group, Atlanta (landscape architect); Uzun & Case, Atlanta (structural engineer); Kelly-Lundstrum-George, Atlanta (mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection engineers); Integrated Lighting Concepts, Agoura, Calif. (lighting consultant); Allied Design, Sachse, Texas (food service consultant); Walker Group/CNI, New York (interior designer); Fletcher Pacific Construction Co. Ltd., Honolulu (general contractor); Quality Cabinet and Fixture Co., San Diego (perimeter fixture contractor); Carlson Store Fixtures, Egan, Minn. (showcase, back islands and loose fixture contractor); Storage Equipment Co. Inc., Minneapolis (stock shelving contractor)