Client: JD Sports Fashion Plc
Architect: Dalziel and Pow / R N Humphreys
Contractor: H & J Martin
Type of works: supply of Stannah Maxilift MXL passenger lifts, escalators and Microlifts.

Hailed by then Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, as ‘a new urbanism’, the Paradise Project in the heart of Liverpool One is a £920-million, 42-acre regeneration programme that has helped transform the city and establish it as the European Capital of Culture.

Featuring strongly in this mixed-use, retail-led project is major UK sports fashion retailer, JD Sports Fashion Plc. Since June 2008, a total of seven Stannah Lifts products operate within their brand-new flagship branch in the eponymous Paradise Street, one of six districts comprising the development.

On the strength of the successful installation of a Stannah A2S down-escalator in the Slough branch of JD Sports, Stannah was once again approached to quote for their three-storey Liverpudlian store. As a result, two Stannah A2S escalators (one up, one down), an exclusive 8-person Maxilift MXL passenger lift and four 50kg Microlifts, for the transport of smaller merchandise between stock rooms and fitting floors, now provide all people- and goods-moving requirements within this thriving outlet.

London Design Consultants, Dalziel and Pow, and James Roberts of Consultant Project Managers, R N Humphreys, worked very closely with JD Sports in designing the layout of the premises to reflect the corporate theme that runs throughout its 430 stores nationwide: a contemporary and minimalistic clear glass, Matt Black and brushed stainless-steel. Stannah echoed this theme in the passenger lift and escalators, all three products being finished in brushed stainless steel with the escalators having clear-glass balustrades topped with Matt Black, extra-slim handrail guide frames.

Appearance played a secondary role with the Microlifts, which were finished in neutral baked enamel for durable service behind the scenes.

Contract Manager, Ryan McShane of H & J Martin, the contractors responsible for constructing the site, explains: “Being a new build without any particular challenging considerations and constraints, all lift installations were fairly straightforward and completed on target, if not ahead.”

“The four 50kg Microlifts were installed over a four-day period and commissioned within one day. The project went fairly smoothly with no major problems. We have installed a good number of lifts for JD Sports and have a good working relationship with them," said Microlifts Installation Manager, Glen Peters.