Pieper O’Brien Herr Architects provided full design services to Giant Eagle on first "ground-up" Market District store in Robinson Township. At 165,000-SF, it is the largest store to date for Giant Eagle. The format of this store resembles more of a supercenter as compared to the previous Market District stores focusing solely on upscale food items.
The store has a 40-foot high atrium capped with a ceiling consisting of 22,000-SF of 24-gauge galvanized steel. The height of the atrium required special attention to make the store's indoor temperature comfortable for customers. Open-air refrigerators that line the store's walls create a cooling effect. The Great Hall was in need of significant thermal destratification. The "big" 12-foot fans that were installed in the ceiling provide a gradual, gentle air movement.
Pieper O’Brien Herr Architects has worked with Giant Eagle for several years providing full design services on renovations to several stores to upgrade their image to include departments from their Market District line of stores in an attempt to woo upscale shoppers. The renovated stores offer Wi-Fi, Churrasco-style foods, a kosher deli, a smoothie bar and other options not offered at other Giant Eagle locations.