Schimenti Construction completed a full renovation of Zara’s Newbury Street location, transforming the 28,760 SF space with an aggressive 18-week schedule just ahead of the holiday retail season. The project features expanded sales floors achieved by integrating two adjacent buildings, reconfiguring levels three and four into a unified floor plan. With the existing elevator unavailable due to renovations, all materials, fixtures, and long-lead millwork imported from Europe were brought in through window openings on each floor. The renovation also included a new ADA lift and upgraded exterior with new windows and rooftop HVAC equipment.

To support the expanded layout, the scope included installing a 3-hour fire-rated shutter door, a structural floor ramp, and new steel supports, along with integration of a dual fire alarm system. A new 116-ton chiller, condenser units, and full MEP infrastructure upgrades were also delivered, while maintaining much of the original mechanical systems. The team worked around elevation differences between buildings and adapted design execution through early site probes and field verifications.

Daily client huddles and intensive design coordination helped keep the complex build on schedule, despite the tight inspection timeline and logistical constraints. By frontloading long-lead items and maintaining continuous communication between vendors, design partners, and Zara’s team, the result is a reimagined retail flagship that brings new energy to Boston’s most famous shopping street.