Sports retailer awarded for sustainable store design
The Intersport Finke sporting goods store in Bielefeld's old town has received the EHI Retail Design Award in the sustainability category. The award recognizes the location, which underwent extensive modernization in 2024, where ecological aspects were consistently integrated into the planning and implementation of the store design.
The EHI Retail Design Award is one of the most prestigious awards for store and shopfitting concepts in European retail. An independent panel of experts evaluates projects based on criteria including design quality, functionality, and future viability. The sustainability category specifically recognizes measures for resource conservation and energy efficiency. Over 100 international projects were submitted for the award's five categories. The awards ceremony took place on February 24th during EuroShop in Düsseldorf.
Holistic planning approach
During the renovation of the approximately 2.000-square-meter store, all relevant elements of the store design – such as climate control and lighting technology, flooring, and furniture construction – were planned with ecological considerations in mind. A key focus was the reuse of existing store fixtures. Around 75 percent of the required new particleboard was replaced with recycled materials. The materials used sequester approximately five tons of CO₂e and significantly improve the project's carbon footprint.
The planning and implementation were carried out by the Intersport Germany store design team in collaboration with specialized partners. Owner Markus Finke invested around 4 million euros in the location: "We wanted to implement the renovation in the most resource-efficient way possible while simultaneously creating modern sports experience environments," said Finke.
