Coach
Handi-Lift partnered with Coach to design and install a custom wheelchair lift for their renovated Chicago store, meeting strict design requirements and seamlessly integrating with the store’s aesthetic. The project overcame a tight timeline and complex logistical challenges to deliver a tailored accessibility solution.
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Overview
Earlier this year, Handi-Lift was approached by Coach for assistance with a custom wheelchair lift needed for their newly renovated Chicago store. The project required a lift that met Coach’s exacting design requirements while seamlessly integrating into the store’s aesthetic. Coach had seen examples of Handi-Lift’s custom work and sought a solution after their initial contractor failed to deliver. The project presented both a tight timeline and significant logistical challenges.
Challenge
The project faced several critical challenges:
Tight Timeline: The store was weeks away from opening, leaving only 4–6 weeks to complete a project that typically requires 12–16 weeks.
Unmet Design Requirements: The original contractor was unable to meet Coach’s specific design needs, jeopardizing the store’s accessibility plans.
Complex Coordination: The project required collaboration across multiple teams, including Coach’s planning and design team, their architect (Tricarico Architecture and Design PC), and multiple fabrication and installation partners.
Emergency Fabrication: Unexpected complications during fabrication required expedited parts delivery and coordination to keep the project on schedule.
Design & Execution
Collaboration and Partnership: Handi-Lift partnered with the Garaventa factory branch in Chicago and ordered the lifting mechanism from Garaventa Lift in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. The factory built the basic lift on a rush basis, completing it in just one week.
- Custom Fabrication:
The lift was shipped to New Jersey, where Handi-Lift worked with INA Building Shop in Brooklyn to create the custom car and enclosure.
Panels were painted Benjamin Moore Bright White to match Coach’s store design, ensuring the lift blended seamlessly into the space.
- Expedited Shipping and Installation:
Coach arranged expedited trucking to transport the completed lift to Chicago.
Mark Urban and his team at Garaventa USA—Chicago led the installation, completing it in under a week despite emergency adjustments and parts being shipped same-day via Southwest Airlines.
Aesthetic Integration: The design incorporated wall-matching panels to make the lift unobtrusive, achieving the goal of making it look like an integral part of the store rather than an afterthought.
Results
The custom wheelchair lift was completed just in time for the grand opening of Coach’s Chicago store, meeting the tight deadline and exceeding expectations. The lift:
Achieved Seamless Integration: Painted panels matched the store’s walls so well that in some pictures, the lift is nearly invisible.
Demonstrated Collaboration: The project highlighted Handi-Lift’s ability to coordinate with multiple teams and overcome logistical challenges under pressure.
Delivered Accessibility with Dignity: The lift not only provided a practical accessibility solution but also upheld Coach’s design standards, reinforcing Handi-Lift’s commitment to elegant, functional designs.
Technical Specifications
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Lift Mechanism
A lifting mechanism was sourced from Garaventa Lift in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, built on a rush basis and shipped to New Jersey for further customization.
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Custom Enclosure Design
- The enclosure system was fabricated with glass and stainless steel to seamlessly integrate with the store’s aesthetic.
- Panels were painted in Benjamin Moore Bright White to match the store's walls, ensuring a cohesive look.
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Fabrication Process
Custom components, including the car and enclosure, were built by INA Building Shop in Brooklyn, New York, with close coordination to ensure timely completion.
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Aesthetic Integration
The lift was designed to blend into the store interior, appearing as part of the building design rather than an addition. This was achieved with custom finishes and alignment with Coach’s extensive use of white in the store.
Location
625 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
