• Location: AJMAN, U.A.E.
• Sector: Retail
• Client: Apparel Group
• Area: 200, 000 sq.ft.
• Status: COMPLETED
• Year: 2014

Grand Central Ajman, is a Large Format Department store that offers the convenience of a neighborhood shopping complex under one big box concept, with the variety that comes with big malls. Grand Central encompasses a wide selection of brands and categories in a compact, shopping-focused format. SM+D were appointed as Design Consultant and Project Management for the whole Architecture and Interior scope of building. 

It has an Open Store concept and houses a number of Apparel Group brands; Athlete’s Co., Aldo, Aldo Accessories, All About Watches, Baby Center, Bottega Verde, Call It Spring, Cold Stone Creamery, Dollar Plus, Inglot, Naturalizer, Nine West, R&B, Shoe Studio, Skechers, and Tim Hortons are all part of this vibrant concept. 

The front façade has a dramatic glass panel which is designed to radiate light throughout the centre encompassing a modern and contemporary design without making it too intimidating for the local customers. On entering, shoppers immediately pass through the ‘Beauty Avenue’ that has international cosmetic brands like Inglot, Bottega Verde & Glossip. Customers can also grab a quick bite along with a freshly brewed cuppa at the Tim Hortons Drive-Thru providing a wholesome experience. 

The interior space planning and zoning has also been thought as per the requirements of the different clients in different departments without segregating the purpose of each spaces. Hence, creating highlights for each store and also giving customers more option to look around while breaking the monotonous feature. It’s a “Box out of Box” design created with huge open cut-out core making the Interior to appear bigger than it is.