Take the coordination and communication it takes to manage a project successfully.
Multiply that by 15 retail spaces.
Add an immense level of security, stringent Port Authority regulations, and one very hard deadline.
That’s what the Henderson Engineers and HNY Consulting Engineers team accomplished back in 2016 when Westfield World Trade Center originally opened. Today, we’re primed to help future retailers bring their projects to life while navigating the unique implementation challenges a shopping complex like this can bring.
“It was exciting to see each door open and for this project, as a whole, to come together,” said Brent Felten, director of business development, who at the time, was a project manager at Henderson Engineers and HNY, and oversaw design of four of the retail spaces in the development. “Nothing was cookie-cutter. With so many different factors, we had to be flexible, responsive, and very organized. It was a tremendous effort by everyone involved.”
Our deep expertise in navigating intricate projects helps our retail clients prepare and evolve for future customer needs. Current customer demands are not what they were in 2016, and shopping complexes like the Westfield World Trade Center are seeing new retailers move in. When developing new retail space in areas with complex security and regulatory requirements, it’s key to have a partner who is already familiar with navigating those.
Henderson and HNY provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection services for this multifaceted project, which brought to life 15 retail spaces when Westfield Trade Center opened.
At opening, it was Manhattan’s largest shopping complex, spanning nine city clocks with 365,000 square feet of retail space. It features more than 100 retail shops and dining establishments. The Westfield also serves as a backdrop for the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, one of New York City’s main transportation centers that connects 13 subway/PATH trains, as well as many of the ferries coming and going from Manhattan to New Jersey and Brooklyn. The Westfield serves millions of visitors every year.
“As a developer, I look for engineers and consultants that quickly absorb the information presented and process it to produce a high-quality set of design drawings that are accurate, efficient, and constructible,” said John Delutis, previous manager of tenant coordination at the Westfield World Trade Center. “Henderson understood the site-wide standard design guidelines, which made my life substantially easier. I was extremely happy with Henderson’s quality of work and their dedication to ensuring the stores were ready to open.”
Take the Port Authority’s elaborate review process and specific standards.
Add in the security challenge of working at the World Trade Center, where limited information was provided in advance, like building blueprints. This required Henderson’s team to conduct a detailed survey of each space before beginning the design process.
Multiply that across 15 retailers, each with their own evolving set of standards.
Combine it with eight different architects.
And you get a project that requires collaboration and precision. Henderson and HNY ultimately provided design services for the following retail stores:
New York City is a living, breathing organism, in a constant state of metamorphosis with a huge retail presence and impact. In 2024 alone, the city accounted for $66.1 billion in retail taxable sales. As consumer expectations continue to evolve, and as leases turnover at the Westfield World Trade Center, spaces previously set for high-end luxury brands will shift towards more food and beverage concepts and more accessible brands over the next few years.
“Retrofitting our existing retail spaces to accommodate fast casual and full-service restaurants requires innovative solutions to address venting and gas infrastructure constraints, while ensuring compliance with evolving building codes,” said Erin Halpin, Senior Project Manager of Tenant Coordination at Westfield World Trade Center. “Resolving these legacy challenges in the base building through modern engineering allows us to unlock greater gross leasable area for a more consumer-centric brand mix, while continuing to deliver the signature best-in-class retail experience that defines the Westfield World Trade Center.”
While the landscape of NYC real estate will continue to change, one thing is constant, Henderson will continue to leverage our expertise and knowledge of these iconic developments to help retailers navigate the complexities that exist and prepare for the future.
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