%402x.svg){kind=icon}
New York, NY — L'Forma is proud to have delivered the custom clay-based artisan plaster at Athletic Propulsion Labs' (APL) SoHo flagship — a project honored with an Award of Merit in Engineering News-Record's (ENR) 2024 New York & New England Best Projects. As certified Clayworks installers, L'Forma self-performed the signature wall finish that helped define one of the year's most celebrated small projects.
APL's 3,800-square-foot flagship — an amphitheater-shaped boutique and the performance footwear brand's first New York location — was described by ENR as "a testament to meticulous craft and creation." L'Forma's contribution was central to that craft: the store's walls are a custom Clayworks clay-based artisan plaster, hand-applied to bring a warm, tactile, seamless finish to the boutique's dramatic curved geometry. The result complements the space's imported Italian travertine flooring and rare onyx-clad fitting rooms.
The project's extreme curves and angles demanded a level of finish precision few applicators can achieve. As certified Clayworks installers, L'Forma applied the artisan plaster to maintain a flawless, continuous finish across the amphitheater-shaped walls — no small feat on a surface defined by sweeping curves. L'Forma delivered the specialty finish in close coordination with general contractor Schimenti Construction Co., lead designer Al-Jawad Pike, and architect of record Tricarico Architecture and Design, contributing to a project completed on schedule and at budget over its seven-month build.
"APL is exactly the kind of project that shows what specialty finishing can do — a curved, sculptural space where the plaster had to be flawless across every angle. Being certified Clayworks installers, and working alongside a team like Schimenti and Al-Jawad Pike, let us deliver a finish worthy of an ENR award. We're proud to have played a part in it." — Peter Heretakis, Project Manager, L'Forma
The recognition reflects L'Forma's range across specialty finishes — from certified Clayworks and BASWA acoustic systems to Venetian and ornamental plaster — for the world's leading brands, including Louis Vuitton, Kith, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
L'Forma is a New York-based construction management and specialty finishing firm delivering Venetian plaster, acoustical plaster, Clayworks artisan plaster, ornamental plaster, and decorative finishes for luxury retail, cultural, and residential spaces. Founded in 2019, L'Forma self-performs flawless hand-applied finishes for the world's most demanding brands across NYC, Miami, California, and nationwide. Learn more at lforma.com.
%402x.svg){kind=icon}
%402x.svg){kind=icon}