A Break Down of Alexander Wang's First Balenciaga Flagship By the Numbers

Photo: Courtesy of Naho Kubota\Balenciaga

I counted 18 workers inside Balenciaga's soon-to-open Soho flagship in NYC today. With apron-wearing ladies readying the dressing rooms and Timberland boot-wearing contractors installing cash wraps and counter tops, it was chaotic but understandably so. This is the first Balenciaga boutique to open since Alexander Wang took on the role of Balenciaga's creative director in November 2012, so surely there is extra pressure to get it right for the new boss.

Photo: Courtesy of Dean Kaufman\Balenciaga

In this case, "it" means an ultra-luxe space intended largely to emulate the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which by my other, non-counting estimates, it does. Below, the store's scale, materials, and overall impressiveness, by the numbers:

4,120: square feet

5,400: square feet of marble used

2,505: square feet in the average U.S. home built last year

3: number of times taller the store's ceilings are than regular ceilings

1: giant curved skylight

2: limestone blocks near the entrance that mannequins stand on like ancient busts

1,595: dollars the brand's small-sized "Le Dix" bag will set you back

1,250: dollars a weekend vacation at the Mercer Hotel across the street will set you back

3: blocks the store is from the Alexander Wang boutique

9: other designer flagships on Mercer Street including Marc Jacobs, Phillip Lim, and Vera Wang

Photo: Courtesy of Dean Kaufman\Balenciaga

Balenciaga opens on November 22 at 148 Mercer Street, New York, NY; (212) 206-0872.