“I want to express my sincere appreciation for the effort you and your team put forth in creating our beautiful new AIS showroom.The space not only looks amazing—it captures and articulates our brand proposition in a sophisticated and forward-looking manner that showcases our products and aspirations.” – Nick Haritos, President and CEO, AIS
MKDA crafted AIS’s New York showroom to extend the identity of the furniture dealer’s Massachusetts flagship while strengthening its presence within a competitive Manhattan market. The 12,600-square-foot space expresses AIS’s values of innovation, partnership, and sustainability through a flexible environment that highlights product versatility and craftsmanship. Positioned as both a neutral backdrop for furniture display and an engaging destination for clients and the design community, the showroom supports rotating installations, evolving layouts, and industry events within a distinctly New York interpretation of the AIS brand.
MKDA structured the showroom as an open, continuous floorplate with clear sightlines and adaptable display zones that shift with changing product lines. The program is organized as a series of demonstration settings — including reception, private offices, conference and huddle rooms, workstation clusters, lounge and pantry areas, materials library, chair display, and outdoor display — each illustrating distinct workplace typologies for visiting clients. Enclosed display rooms are consolidated along one side of the floorplate, while the remaining perimeter stays open to daylight and accommodates flexible furniture groupings and circulation.
A restrained, gallery-like environment guides the overall showroom design, shaped by coordinated material, floor, and lighting strategies. Steel columns clad in gray wood paneling with integrated sconces bring material richness, while exposed ceilings are kept visually low to temper the space’s industrial character. MKDA incorporated carpeted display zones to contrast with the exposed concrete floor, defining vignette areas and supporting intuitive wayfinding across the open showroom. Lighting also plays a central role, with track and spot fixtures highlighting furnishings in an exhibition-style manner.
The reception establishes a strong first impression through a bold concrete desk set against a textured, translucent glass feature wall, grounding the brand within the industrial loft context. Burnt-orange elevators introduce a warm brand accent within the otherwise soft, monochromatic showroom palette. Just beyond reception, a translucent brown-glass chair display paired with built-in shelving creates a layered moment of product presentation along the main circulation path. Nearby, the materials library forms a tactile hub for designers, with pegboard displays and a central work island encouraging hands-on exploration and specification. Custom millwork fabricated by AIS — including reception, pantry, and display elements — reinforces the brand’s manufacturing expertise and commitment to durable, long-life solutions.