Vertical elevating solutions enhance a NYC fashion landmark

Luxury Retail in a Historic Manhattan Building

This appointment-only luxury retailer delivers a highly curated, private shopping experience within a restored 1890s cast-iron landmark at 1 Bond Street in Manhattan. The Luisaviaroma flagship occupies approximately 1,765 sq. m. (19,000 sq. ft.) across two public-facing levels, combining heritage architecture with contemporary retail design.

The NoHo location—situated in a neighbourhood known for its expensive restaurants, luxury boutiques and artistic flair all set in a mix of historic architecture and modern luxury—is the brand’s first physical store outside Italy. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by a personal shopper and guided through a carefully edited selection of international fashion houses and New York–based designers.

A prominent stair connects the main floor to a lower level, which includes a fully concealed VIP salon designed to provide discretion and privacy for high-value clients. This level houses an extensive couture collection, while additional back-of-house functions—including stockrooms and a dedicated storage floor—are restricted to staff access only.

To support both client circulation and operational efficiency, the project required two distinct vertical transportation solutions: an ADA-compliant commercial elevator for customers and a dedicated material handling system for merchandise movement between levels.

Limited Use/Limited Application (LU/LA) Elevator: Savaria Orion MRL

For customer accessibility and convenience, the design team selected the Savaria Orion machine-room-less LU/LA elevator, specified to meet the aesthetic expectations of a luxury retail environment while addressing the spatial limitations of an existing urban structure.

“The Orion LU/LA was selected for its reliability, smooth ride performance, and compact MRL configuration,” says Mike Dolan, Director of Project Management at Mobility Elevator & Lift, a leading Savaria dealer serving New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Engineered for low-rise commercial applications, the Orion MRL supports up to 1,400 lb capacity and approximately 200 trips per day. The versatile unit offers extensive customization options—including cab finishes and color palettes—allowing it to integrate seamlessly into high-end architectural interiors.

From a planning perspective, the elevator’s footprint can help minimize construction costs while providing ADA compliance. With a minimum pit depth of 17 inches and overhead requirements as low as 111 inches (113 inches for the Orion 17 cab) in retrofit scenarios, the Orion MRL is well suited to tight urban sites. New construction applications require 134 inches of overhead clearance.

By eliminating the need for a separate machine room through the use of an optional door buck controller, the Orion MRL can reclaim up to 20 sq. ft. compared to traditional hydraulic LU/LA elevators—an important advantage in premium retail locations such as Bond Street, where lease rates can exceed $250 per sq. ft. annually.

In addition to optimizing space, the elevator improves the overall guest experience and ensures inclusive access for clients using wheelchairs, scooters, or other mobility aids.

Material Handling: Matot by Savaria Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor

To move inventory efficiently between the public retail floors and staff-only stock and storage levels below grade, the project incorporated a Matot by Savaria Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor (VRC).

The VRC provides rapid, labor-efficient transport of merchandise—whether boxed inventory or fully assembled display racks—reducing manual handling, minimizing disruptions to the retail floor and enhancing the VIP shopping experience.

“Matot VRCs are widely regarded for their heavy-duty construction and long-term durability,” notes Dolan.

Designed for durability, Matot VRCs offer platform sizes up to 60" × 86" with capacities of up to 2,500 lb, all while taking up less square-footage than a typical freight elevator. Units can be configured for floor-level loading to accommodate carts and rolling racks, or counter-height loading for hand transfer. Available opening arrangements include single-side, opposite-side, and adjacent (90-degree) access, providing flexibility during the design phase.

Typical travel time between terminal landings ranges from 30 to 45 seconds, supporting efficient restocking and inventory flow.

By relocating storage functions below street level—where lease rates are typically up to 80% lower—vertical material handling systems like VRCs help retailers maximize revenue-generating space while improving operational performance and staff productivity.

Working with a Global Leader

Savaria is a global leader in accessibility, designing and manufacturing home elevators, commercial accessibility elevators, ADA-compliant wheelchair lifts, stairlifts and vertical material handling solutions. With thousands of installations around the world, Savaria products can be found in a variety of applications, from custom homes to public buildings, from retail and hospitality to healthcare and hospitals, manufacturing to schools, airport terminals, sports stadiums and places of worship.

Savaria acquired the Matot line of dumbwaiters, material lifts and vertical reciprocating conveyors (VRCs) in 2024. Founded in 1888, Matot dumbwaiters and material lifts are used in a wide range of applications, including hospital and healthcare facilities, the hospitality sector, and a variety of retail, industrial and speciality settings such as stadiums and transportation terminals.

Luisaviaroma Project: Savaria Orion Specs

Cab Size: 42" W x 54" L x 85 3/8" H
Capacity: 1400 lb
Speed: 30 fpm (0.15 m/s)
Version: Machine Roomless with door buck controller on egress floor
Overhead: 120"
Number of Stops: 2
Travel Distance: 13' 1" 
Cab Finish: Stainless steel
Cab Type: Single entry/exit

Luisaviaroma Project: Matot Specs

Car Size: 36" W x 40" L x 82" H
Capacity: 750 lb
Drive: Winding drum
Speed: 40 fpm
Overhead: 136"
Number of Stops: 3
Travel Distance: 21' 4"
Car Finish: Stainless steel
Car Type: Floor loading

Architect: F R O M Architecture

Retail Consultant: acdp Consulting

General Contractor: Tectonic Builders

Savaria Dealer: Mobility Elevator & Lift