New Store - Retail
As a firm, BS design co (BS) has multiple years of architectural and engineering experience with new store construction projects with Academy Sports + Outdoors (ASO). BS has been a part of the ASO architect team for over 2 years, with ASO new store projects located in many of the south-eastern states region, such as Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, and Missouri. ASO projects typically are developer driven build-to-suit projects where BS is contracted to provide architectural and engineering services to ASO, while the Developer is covering the cost of construction and ultimately has final say over the budget, which in turn is reflected in the Lease agreement between ASO and Developer/Landlord. Academy Sports + Outdoor projects require BS to provide architectural and engineering services from the initial meeting with the city to discuss the permit process, to the final punch completion. The ASO building is tilt-up wall construction with steel columns and roof structure. BS produced an average of 5 new stores a year, in various locations. Our role in the new store program allows us to collaborate with the developer’s design team, typically consisting of architects and engineers, civil engineers, landscape designers, and general contractors. ASO projects can get confusing on who is responsible for designing what, and making sure that final design is then coordinated with the entire team, to ensure the development works as a whole. BS is required to have several status meetings during the life of the design document phase with the developer team, ASO and the BS team to promote communication and make for a smooth permitting and construction phase.
The Academy Sports locations each provide unique challenges as the projects are typically contractually a developer led Build-to-Suit, while the architectural contract is directly with Academy Sports. This scenario provides unique opportunities in the establishment of a team environment with new partners on each project. BS culture and flexibility has led to dynamic interactions between the various project players and is reflected in the various recommendations received from these team members. Individual project challenges include, site adaptation, non-proto footprints, special elevations/exterior finishes, specific development requirements to create a cohesive development design, site specific FM Global compliant construction, expedited schedules, and site and utility coordination with developer provided civil engineering.
BS staff has experience on various new construction projects types including restaurants, hotels, and Class A office buildings. BS and its staff have been successful with the different client/owner scenarios and project types because of our ability to be responsive and communicate with the multitude of integral players and our understanding of the new store process.