Enclosed malls may be on the way out, but their structures aren’t going anywhere. A new report from The Atlantic details how creative developers are turning malls that were once filled with shoppers into medical centers, elementary schools, colleges, and churches.
The report cites research by architect and Georgia Tech professor Ellen Dunham-Jones which shows that approximately one-third of the country’s 1,200 enclosed malls are “dead or dying” due to the overbuilding done by developers in the 20th century.
The good news is that a sizable portion of that building stock is being repurposed. According to Dunham-Jones, who maintains a database of mall retrofit projects across the country, there are 211 enclosed malls currently being retrofitted in some form or fashion, reports The Atlantic.
One of those projects is the Highland Mall in Austin, Texas, where developers transformed the structure into a mixed-use community education center after it was purchased by Austin Community College. Now, with the help of Barnes Gromatzky Kosarek Architects, the once derelict mall is a thriving operation, with 604 computer stations, 200,000 sf of instructional space, a library, and offices.
In September 2014, BD+C reported on one of the nation’s most successful mall conversion projects, the Vanderbilt Medical Center at One Hundred Oaks Mall, which transformed a former 1960s-era indoor shopping mall in Nashville, Tenn., into a 880,000-sf, mixed-use medical office center for Vanderbilt University.
Related Stories
Market Data | Apr 13, 2017
2016’s top 10 states for commercial development
Three new states creep into the top 10 while first and second place remain unchanged.
Mixed-Use | Apr 7, 2017
North Hollywood mixed-use development NoHo West begins construction
The development is expected to open in 2018.
Urban Planning | Mar 31, 2017
4 important things to consider when designing streets for people, not just cars
For the most part what you see is streets that have been designed with the car in mind—at a large scale for a fast speed.
Retail Centers | Mar 23, 2017
The retail renaissance part I: How architecture will shape the future of shopping
The retail sector is charting unfamiliar territory as web sales and evolving tastes force a paradigm shift. In our Retail Renaissance blog series, architects, interior designers, planners and engineers from different GS&P markets will consider the impact of retail trends and discuss how clients and developers can successfully navigate this new age of shopping.
Retail Centers | Mar 21, 2017
A giant ‘show pool’ is the highlight of a new food- and entertainment-centric mall in Turkey's largest metro
WaterGarden Istanbul hopes to attract 15 million visitors a year.
Retail Centers | Mar 9, 2017
When everyone shops online, what happens to mixed-use retail?
NBBJ’s David Yuan explains how changing retail trends are creating new opportunities for urban experiences and public space.
Retail Centers | Mar 7, 2017
Five facets of successful retail that further social connection
What’s driving experiential retail in 2017 and beyond?
Retail Centers | Jan 24, 2017
Sensational shopping: Retail and the emotional connection
CallisonRTKL's Bret Wiggins discusses how to design the retail environment in a way that taps into the shopper psyche.
Retail Centers | Dec 23, 2016
Wayfinding trends: Modern digital signage caters to personal tastes and profiles of shoppers
Applications like Bluetooth-driven Beacon systems and cellular Wi-Fi systems can now be used to help people navigate space in a more profound way, writes CallisonRTKL’s Cody Clark.
Architects | Nov 20, 2016
D.C.’s first distillery-eatery taps into a growing trend
The stylish location targets customers craving craft spirits and late-night dining.
