Illuminating a 14 metre lift shaft inside Adidas’ flagship store, Champs-Élysées, Paris
The story begins in late January 2024 and concludes with a completed installation on April 6th. While that may sound like a comfortable programme, anyone involved in retail fit-outs knows how quickly time disappears. Success depends on close collaboration between architects, designers, contractors and specialist suppliers to deliver on schedule and within budget.
Although initial engineering proposals and visual concepts were developed early on, formal approval came just six weeks before the scheduled completion date. The clock was already ticking.
Our first site visit took place on March 7th, with a trip to Paris. It was then that the scale and complexity of the challenge became fully clear. The project was located within an existing building on the Champs-Élysées, not a new-build shell, which meant working around structural constraints while complying with stringent French building and fire safety regulations.
Design Agency
Broadwick Studios
Architect
Brand Tailors
Brand
Adidas
Photography
Chris Carter
Engineering under pressure: Delivering a seamless solution.
Collaboration was critical. We worked closely with Brand Tailors, the appointed architects, and Broadwick Studio, the creative agency, to translate their design intent into a practical, buildable solution. Our role was to engineer and manufacture a cladding system for a twin lift shaft that would integrate seamlessly with the surrounding retail displays.
The solution needed to do more than look good. It had to support interchangeable graphics across both rigid panels and tensioned fabrics, allowing future campaigns to be updated easily. At the same time, installation would temporarily block lifts and stairs, halting other fit-out works. There was no margin for error, no opportunity for on-site alterations, and no tolerance for delay.
Achieving this required meticulous coordination with the main contractor, installers and electrical teams, as well as alignment with the brand itself. We had to sequence our works around ongoing construction and the installation of fixtures and services. Fire doors were incorporated into the lift shaft design, engineered to meet regulations while remaining visually discreet.
“We pride ourselves on our ability to get things right, and in a time-pressured project like this, no snags says a lot about the quality of our work and the added value our people bring to any job.”
Matt Burns – Design & Development Director, Unibox
Our approach combined standard manufacturing capability with bespoke adaptation. From our Manchester facility, where we produce more than 500 lightboxes and related products each week, we fabricated the components, integrating subtle flexibility into the design to allow fine adjustment during installation. The system was engineered to align precisely with the wider interior scheme while remaining practical to install under tight conditions.
Once materials arrived on site, the full installation was completed within a week. The team often worked overnight to avoid disrupting parallel trades and to ensure the wider programme remained intact. Because no other work could proceed while scaffolding was in place, progress had to be seamless.
The result met both aesthetic and functional expectations. The store opened on schedule, with no delays and no remedial works identified during snagging. Delivering a complex installation under significant time pressure — and achieving a snag-free sign-off — was a testament to careful planning, collaborative working and disciplined execution.
The project not only fulfilled its immediate objectives but also strengthened relationships with the client and project partners, reinforcing trust and establishing a foundation for future opportunities.
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