Beautiful, Sustainable, High-Tech & Shopper-Friendly: The Mall at University Town Center Set to Make an Imprint on Southwest Florida

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Beautiful, Sustainable, High-Tech & Shopper-Friendly: The Mall at University Town Center Set to Make an Imprint on Southwest Florida"

Elmer Lee
5 years ago
Views:

1 Beautiful, Sustainable, High-Tech & Shopper-Friendly: The Mall at University Town Center Set to Make an Imprint on Southwest Florida SARASOTA, Fla., Oct. 1, 2014 Building on a tradition of architectural excellence in Sarasota, The Mall at University Town Center ( UTC ) opening Oct. 16 is an impressive addition to the region s landscape as well as its shopping and dining scene. From its striking and locally inspired design to its satellite Visitors Center and electric car charging stations, not only is the new mall a beautiful, tech-savvy and shopperfriendly facility, but its sustainable building practices make it environmentally friendly, as well. The 880,000-square-foot shopping center built by a partnership between Taubman and Benderson Development Company, LLC is a state-of-the-art, two-level enclosed mall featuring more than 100 specialty stores and restaurants over half are unique to the market along with department store anchors Dillard s, Macy s and Saks Fifth Avenue. Located at the southwest corner of I-75 and University Parkway, the new mall is the focal point of the larger, University Town Center development featuring additional retail, dining, hotels, office space, and a world-class rowing competition facility. The Mall at UTC embraces its Southwest Florida setting, said Ron Loch, AIA, vice president of planning and design for Taubman. With soaring, light-filled spaces, natural building materials and high-tech, customer-focused amenities, we ve created a beautiful and vibrant gathering place one that respects the environment while aptly showcasing the region s premier collection of retailers. Detailed below are notable architectural, customer-focused, high-tech and environmentally sustainable features of The Mall at UTC, along with some vital statistics. I. ARCHITECTURE II. SHOPPER AMENITIES/HIGH-TECH INNOVATIONS III. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IV. VITAL STATS I. ARCHITECTURE: CONTEMPORARY, LIGHT-FILLED & LOCAL Designed with the Sarasota and Florida lifestyle in mind, The Mall at UTC showcases a premium collection of fashion and lifestyle retailers in an environment that is innovative yet relaxed, casual yet elegant. The Building: A Commanding Presence with Quality Materials The mall is impressive in scale, with stores located on two levels surrounding a series of grand, light-filled spaces. Linking Macy s at the north end to Dillard s at the south end is an 1100 foot long curvilinear vaulted skylight with a built-in color-changing LED lighting system. The contemporary design features a highly refined metal and glass aesthetic. Elegantly detailed, highquality glass, metal, natural stone and wood are complemented by casual interior furnishings, lush landscaping and pristine water features. Building materials highlights:

2 - Fossil stone from Germany and Israel for durability, warmth and beauty; - Plentiful glass for skylights, windows, handrails and a feature elevator enclosure, creating lightness and transparency; - Metal panel cladding on canopies and mall entries for a refined look achieved with crisp and clean details; and - Wood cladding on columns, furniture and handrails, adding warmth to the mall s interior. Public Entrances: Welcoming and Easy to Find Upper and lower level entries provide direct access to both levels of the mall from the parking lot, allowing guests to reach all stores with ease. The central west entry features a valet porte cochère, or drop-off canopy, in front of the 65-foot-high louvered glass entry pavilion flanked by four unique-to-the-market restaurants The Cheesecake Factory, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille and Brio Tuscan Grille. The central east entry and the four mall entries adjacent to Macy s and Dillard s feature a prominent and elegantly-lit utc logo above a glass canopy, providing welcoming mall entrances that are easy for shoppers to find. Grand Spaces: Light-Filled and Customer-Friendly The central west entry Pavilion is the symbolic front door to the mall. Upon entering the monumental space, the customer encounters a low, linear fountain with water spilling over three illuminated cubes flanked by majestic date palms rising on each side. Hanging from the ceiling is a tubular multi-pendant chandelier, creating a focal point and casting a warm glow on the space. The Grand Court is the light-filled centerpiece of the project, capped by a large circular sloped skylight and featuring a glass-enclosed elevator tower rising out of a reflecting pool. The Grand Court is a place where guests can relax in a comfortable setting, enjoy a cup of coffee, charge their smartphones at the charging counter and bring their kids to enjoy holiday displays. The elliptical-shaped Macy s Court, rising 65 feet high, has an abundance of natural light, comfortable seating with electronics charging stations and convenient elevator and escalator connections between the two levels. The spacious Dillard s Court features the Children s Play Area sponsored by Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, casual seating with electronics charging stations, and elevator and escalator circulation for customer convenience. Mall Concourse: Bright and Comfortable The mall concourse features a distinctive, curved-glass vaulted skylight with a wood-like trellis that filters the sunlight, creating a pleasant, relaxing aura. Abundant natural light filters down through the louvered skylight in an intriguing play of light for visitors. The skylight utilizes high-performance glass to reduce heat gain and energy costs while enhancing customer comfort. The specialty skylight glass maximizes the natural light and offers a filtered view of the blue sky above. Casual seating, electronics charging stations and interactive directories are set within a regular rhythm of palm trees, plantings, retail kiosks, seating and exhibits to provide a convenient and enjoyable shopping experience.

3 Department Store Design: Contemporary, Retro and Traditional All department stores are two levels. Macy s is designed in a contemporary style, with prominent logo and large glass entry walls. Saks Fifth Avenue unveils its new store prototype, featuring a retro-modern design, two-story entry canopy and a horizontal band of undulating vertical metal slats above large display windows. Dillard s is designed in a traditional style featuring the brand s signature arched exterior entries. Restaurant Design: Distinctive Indoor/Outdoor Dining Four of the six exterior-facing restaurants are located adjacent to the central west entry, while the remaining two frame the central east entry. The restaurants are unique branded environments with a variety of distinctive facades and feature exterior dining patios with projecting canopies, fire pits, fountains, lush landscaping and dramatic lighting. Landscaping: Native and Eco-Friendly The Mall at UTC s exterior landscape design is fluid and colorful, incorporating paved and planted ribbonshaped elements that evoke the flowing patterns of the Florida coastline. Palm trees, hedges, wall vines and prominent fountains are set within a curvilinear, multi-colored sidewalk system that wraps around the entire mall, complementing the architecture and delighting the visitor. Lush native landscaping and bioswales are located throughout the parking lot to increase plant hardiness, minimize irrigation and control storm runoff. The tropical, resort-inspired interior landscaping continues the look and feel of the exterior plantings with emphasis on smaller accents and occasional bursts of color. Signage: Locally Inspired Signage design is inspired by the material palette of the mall and the regional Sarasota landscape. The campus-wide sign system aims to unite the various district destinations within The Mall at UTC, so each district is identified with a distinct color and a unified UTC logo. The color system is inspired by regional natural elements, including citrus, ocean, flora and fauna. A subtle palm frond pattern on each sign further references the Florida landscape. Pylon signs featuring the UTC logo are located along the main access roads and clearly mark each destination and the major stores. Mall entries are clearly identified. The interior sign system is an extension of the exterior program and features overhead and monument signs with the same signage materials, colors and details. II. AMENITIES: SHOPPER-FRIENDLY & TECH-SAVVY The Mall at UTC offers numerous innovative and convenient amenities for shoppers and retailers many of which are made possible by an impressive suite of technology tools. Highlights: - Plenty of parking: More than 4,000 parking spaces surround the mall in a parking field sloped to meet the entries on both the mall s upper and lower levels, providing better access to all stores. - Valet parking: Service for both the mall and the restaurants is provided at UTC s central west entry, with additional valet service at the Saks Fifth Avenue entry portico.

4 - Satellite Visitors Center: Sponsored by Visit Sarasota County, the Customer Service Desk at UTC will host a digital display and Sarasota Visitors Center staff to provide information about local hotels, dining, cultural attractions, beaches and all that the area has to offer. - Children s Play Area sponsored by Lakewood Ranch Medical Center: Soft, oversized native sea creatures and a video display promote healthy play in a safe and inviting environment. - Electric vehicle charging stations: Sixteen charging stations are available. - Touchscreen directories: Located throughout the mall to dynamically direct shoppers to their destinations. - Free Wi-Fi for shoppers and mall shops provide convenient, campus-wide Internet access. - Electronics charging stations: More than 40 charging stations are integrated into seating areas throughout the mall, and a tech counter in the Grand Court features smartphone charging for Digital auto kiosks and car displays, sponsored by Gettel Automotive: Visitors can enjoy seeing the latest, state-of-the-art Acura, Hyundai, Nissan and Toyota models displayed throughout the center as well as view and request more information at kiosks inside the mall. III. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: SUSTAINABLE, SMART BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE Designed to be both energy efficient and sustainable, The Mall at UTC embraces the following practices for ongoing environmentally-friendly operation: Energy Conservation: - Energy-efficient mechanical systems - LED lighting systems used throughout the interior and exterior - Smart Building control systems and building automation system to maximize efficiency and coordination Green Building Practices: - High-efficiency skylight glazing to minimize heat and glare - White roof to reduce heat gain - Low-emitting building materials such as paints, adhesives and flooring - Mall store guidelines encourage green building methods - Taubman Smart Building infrastructure includes comprehensive energy management and wireless smart meters Water Efficiency: - Water-efficient landscaping - Low-flow plumbing fixtures Waste Reduction/Recycling: - Construction waste minimized - Recycling stations in mall and service areas - Mall store guidelines encourage recycling Alternative Transportation: - Electric car charging stations provided - Bike racks and pathways provided - Regional bus stop located on the corner of Cattlemen and DeSoto

5 IV. VITAL STATS ABOUT THE MALL AT UTC - Total Square Feet: 880,000 - Site Area: 73 acres - Total Parking Spaces: 4,100 - Electric Car Charging Stations: 16 The Mall at UTC opens Oct. 16, Located at I-75 and University Parkway, this world-class fashion and dining destination will feature approximately 880,000 square feet of retail space with Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, Dillard's and more than 100 stores and restaurants. The shopping center will feature many distinctive retailers not found anywhere else in the local market, offering customers a diverse mix of fashion and lifestyle retailers, popular favorites, sit-down restaurants and a children's play area. For information and to sign up for e-bulletins, visit Like us on Facebook at CONTACT: Heather McLain Clarke Advertising and Public Relations hmclain@clarkeadvertising.com # # #

RA1.01. Project Description:

RA1.01. Project Description: Project Description: Designed around a philosophy of "healthy building for healthy bodies," the University s recreation center inspires personal health and wellness. As the University s campus continues