View of rear cashwrap area (left) and fitting room lobby (right) – DvF Newbury Store. Photo copyright Roberto Farren Photography, 2011

As we approach the April tax deadline, we’re often reminded that small businesses commonly forget to claim tax credits for their commercial construction fit-outs that include Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG)-related improvements.  Tax year construction expenditures to remove barriers to universal access – including retrofits or new construction to provide accessible lifts, bathrooms, signage, and entry doorways, amongst others – are eligible for a tax credit covering over 50% of the eligible access expenditures in a year up to $10,250 (maximum credit of $5000).  For the latest information on this tax credit, please refer to the ADA website http://www.ada.gov/taxcred.htm and the IRS link on this credit for barrier removal http://www.irs.gov/publications/p535/ch07.html#en_US_2012_publink1000208925

XChange Architects was invited to collaborate with Diane von Furstenberg studio in 2010 on the design and construction of the first DvF store in New England at 73 Newbury Street in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay.  Although an extensive corporate design standard was available, there were significant challenges in applying them to a turn-of-the-century brownstone.  Custom-designed, ADA-compliant fitting rooms and a slide-out sales counter features for the store addressed State MAAB and Federal ADAAG requirements with universal access design concepts that are both operationally-efficient and synergistic with the design-oriented DvF customer service approach.  This collaboration resulted in the skillful merging of a contemporary design aesthetic with a New England flair.

CREDITS

Photography:  Roberto Farren Photography

Design Lead:  David Del Villar, Vice President of Design and Construction – DvF Studio, LP

General Contractor:  Sleeping Dog Properties, Inc.

M/E/P & FP:  R.G. Vanderweil Engineers, LLP

All photographs, images and drawings copyright XChange Architects LLC, unless otherwise noted.