DP3 Architects, Ltd. designs Smith & James new retail store

Create a new space that will tap into Smith & James rich history in Upstate, SC, optimize light and function, and provide a customer experience that will encourage customers to become regulars. That was the challenge presented to DP3 Architects. To pay homage to the clothier, founded in 1916, DP3 Architects selected to reuse and repurpose a vast assortment of Smith & James’ existing signage, millwork, and décor. The iconic pieces give Smith & James its character and historic legacy. For example, the vintage canoe previously used as retail display and hidden underneath piles clothing, has been unearthed and displayed prominently, suspended above the check-out counter.

The Smith & James brand, rooted in service and quality, can be seen throughout the design, from the architectural details of the building shell, to the quality of the furniture and finishes, to the bold black-and-white-striped wallpaper feature.

The architecture is a formal and elegant expression of the fine clothing inside while also emphasizing the fun and easy shopping experience they strive to provide their customers. The building plays with these ideas by contrasting the solidity of the masonry materials with the transparency of glass entrances and graphic displays.

DP3 Architects, partnered with Mavin Construction, met the challenge Smith & James presented them. The customer service excellence Smith & James has been known for since 1916, has been met with a new, equally iconic retail space.

DP3 Architects, established in 1984 and headquartered in the heart of downtown Greenville, South Carolina, is an architectural and interior design firm specializing in hospitality, higher education, and community projects. DP3 Architects designs projects that invite, inspire, and invigorate the people that work, live, and play in the spaces we create.

PEOPLE PLACES PURPOSE
www.dp3architects.com