Phone
(903) 583-7500
Project Overview
The Detroit Red Wings Team Store at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, uses two large operable storefront openings to connect the retail space with the surrounding concourse. As part of the arena’s broader glazed façade, the openings needed to function as an integrated part of the storefront rather than appearing as conventional doors added to the architecture.
Two custom Renlita Float vertical lift systems were incorporated into the black-anodized curtainwall design. Each approximately 13’-5” wide by 10’-6” tall opening provides expansive glazing when closed and can be raised to create a direct, unobstructed connection between the Team Store and the concourse.
The Challenge
The Team Store needed large operable openings that could become part of the surrounding storefront architecture when closed while creating broad access to the concourse when open. With each opening spanning more than 13 feet, the solution also needed to preserve valuable retail floor and ceiling space rather than introduce conventional door tracks or operating hardware into the store.
Because the openings were incorporated into the exterior curtainwall design, their framing, glazing, and finish also needed to coordinate with the adjacent black-anodized storefront system. The challenge was therefore both functional and architectural: create two substantial operable openings without disrupting the appearance or usability of the retail environment.
The Solution
Renlita engineered two custom Float vertical lift systems, formerly the S-1000 Floataway, for the Red Wings Team Store. Each system measures approximately 13’-5” wide by 10’-6” tall and incorporates 1” clear insulated glass within a custom black-anodized assembly designed to coordinate with the surrounding curtainwall.
The Float systems use manual counterweight operation, balancing the large glazed panels so they can be raised vertically without conventional overhead tracks extending into the retail space. When open, each panel moves above its opening to create a broad connection between the Team Store and concourse while leaving the floor area below unobstructed.
When closed, the glazed panels become part of the storefront enclosure, maintaining visibility into the Team Store and the architectural continuity of the façade. Full-perimeter weather seals and solid aluminum thresholds complete the assemblies at the building envelope.
Key Benefits
Storefront Integration
The two Float systems were designed with 1” clear insulated glass and a custom black-anodized finish to coordinate with the surrounding curtainwall. When closed, the large glazed panels maintain the visual character of the storefront rather than introducing a distinctly separate door system, allowing the operable openings to remain integrated with the architecture of Little Caesars Arena.
Open Concourse Connection
Each approximately 13’-5”-wide Float can be raised to create a large, unobstructed connection between the Team Store and the surrounding concourse. With two operable openings, the storefront can become significantly more open to passing arena traffic while maintaining clear floor space for customer circulation and retail operations.
Space-Efficient Operation
The manual counterweight systems raise the large glazed panels vertically without conventional overhead tracks extending across the retail ceiling. This keeps operating equipment concentrated around the openings and preserves valuable interior space for merchandise displays, customer circulation, lighting, and other elements of the Team Store.