How the NYC Louis Vuitton Building Stays Stylishly Ice-Free

The Challenge

Last year, Louis Vuitton temporarily closed their flagship store in Midtown Manhattan to both renovate and expand the building and store. In preparing the building for renovation and expansion, they covered the building’s exterior with a temporary custom outer setup that resembled a stack of the brand’s signature luggage trunks. Made to look like six distinct suitcases stacked on top of one another (from largest to smallest), this iconic and classy exterior was designed to draw attention to the large-scale project. The brand even wanted this creative renovation exterior to pop at night, and to do so, they installed strips of lighting along each of the trunk’s perimeters. This made the building stand out during the day and remain illuminated at night, drawing the eye no matter what time of day!

Being that this was a specially designed custom exterior, the brand faced the problem of figuring out how to protect the lighting strips and the integrity of the trunks’ perimeter from any weather damage. They required a solution that would reduce the risk of snow and ice from damaging the chrome-plated outlines of the trunk as well as effectively protect the electrical cables running along them.

The Solution

To successfully avoid the risks posed by snow and ice in the storm-heavy winter months, Louis Vuitton decided that Warmup’s Self-Regulating Cable would be a perfect fit. The Self-Regulating cable is designed to provide reliable protection against snow and ice build-up on roof and outer-ledge applications. In line with Louis Vuitton's preference for effortless efficiency, the building’s Self-Regulating Cables adjust to Midtown Manhattan’s specific weather conditions due to an inner carbon matrix that allows higher heat outputs once outdoor conditions worsen. This means that the cables only use energy when a specific temperature threshold has been crossed, ensuring that heat and energy are never wasted. This sustainable heat output solution helps reduce energy costs and maximize energy use.

The cables' temperature detection capabilities also ensures that snow and ice-build are either so significantly reduced that any resulting accumulation is inconsequential, or that there is no accumulation at all due to emitting the correct level of heat to prevent snow-related precipitation from even sticking by melting instantly. Given that one of the brand's goals for the building was to remain an eye catching piece, the Self-Regulating Cables will keep the building clear of snow and ice-buildup, effectively maintaining the integrity of the building and the brand’s ability to continually put on various light shows.

The Result

While the New York City winter weather may remain uncertain, Louis Vuitton knows that their flagship building's exterior will remain safe and ice-free. As the exterior is several stories high and made of luggage pieces that are all of varying sizes, they have found that not only does the Self-Regulating Cable keep the building aesthetically pleasing and protected, but it prevents the dangerous formation of icicles that could potentially fall and cause harm to passers-by and employees. Now, since the trunks’ perimeters won’t be at risk of snow and ice damage or buildup, the surrounding area of the building remains free from weather-related injuries to all who pass by below, eliminating a significant winter hazard in a highly visited area in New York City.

Additionally, the cable’s self-adjusted heat output means that they use the amount of energy needed, ensuring that Louis Vuitton saves big on energy and operating costs. Warmup’s Self-Regulating Cables protect the safety of those in the area as well as the building’s practical and creative functionality from all harmful snow-related weather, keeping safety chic and in style during the winter season.