Commercial Architecture June 2017 - 11

FEATURE

mixed use

ban shopping malls into viable mixed-use neighborhoods," Epstein's Young observed. "The impulse to make
this change makes better sense than reviving the 'destination' shopping experience. The problem in my mind is
getting your typical suburban resident comfortable with
the prospect of a higher-density living experience, akin to
an urban setting. Unfortunately, without the density, the
viability of the commercial spaces that support these residents seems hard to maintain."
Nevertheless, there is growing interest in suburban
mixed-use projects. "With the climbing costs associated
with living in cities, many people are pushed into the
surrounding suburbs to find housing," said James J. Szymanski, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, associate, The Architectural Team Inc., Chelsea, MA.
"Many of those buyers and renters still desire the convenience and activity that mixed-use developments provide, so the concept of mixed-use projects is expanding to
the suburbs, along with those renters/buyers. The relative
ease with which people can access a wide range of jobs,
goods, services, and opportunities for social interaction
is vital for successful 24/7 live, work, play environments,"
Szymanski said.
COMPONENTS FOR MIXED USE

Mixed-use projects today are more likely to be carefully planned, down to individual components that attract
tenants and visitors.
"Clients are recognizing that there's a need for interaction, even though half the people sitting in their lounge
space have their earphones in. At Durham.ID (innovation district) [Durham, NC], they're filling the lobbies
with furniture and essentially creating a destination that

Above. The Durham.ID (innovation district) development encourages pedestrian pathways to neighborhoods near to, but not previously connected to,
Durham, NC's, urban core. The project also forms a new downtown life-sciences research hub and provides space for researchers from area universities
and companies seeking a collaborative community. The project was designed by Duda Paine Architects. Rendering: Neoscape
Below. Millbrae BART, a 560,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use project, combines elements of public transportation, retail, residential, and hospitality. The transitoriented development was conceived by Form4 Architecture as a miniature city and serves as a gateway node with access to regional bus service,
generous parking, and various pedestrian-focused amenities in the San Francisco Bay area. Rendering courtesy of Form4 Architecture.

is about hanging out. That idea translates into a broker
talking to a potential tenant about renting in their building. For a tenant to see that they're potentially going to
work in a people-centered environment that has accessible amenities like a coffee shop, restaurant, and retail-a
place that is really a destination-that is very exciting,"
observed Duda|Paine's Russ Holcomb.
"Ideally, a development should provide enough critical mass to support several uses that keep activity on a
site at all times of the day and all days of the week," commented The Architectural Team's Szymanski.
"The inclusion of quality outdoor space that allows a
variety of different passive and active options will help
support retail, commercial, and residential uses," Szymanski continued. "Inclusion of some food service uses
will serve the residents, as well as the general public. The
addition of some form of public art, whether it be a sculptural element or a water feature, certainly helps to serve as
an attraction to bring in activity and local pride and an
attachment to one's community. Its importance cannot
be overstated," he said.
Balancing the needs of office clients with the components that best exemplify contemporary mixed-use projcommercialarchitecturemagazine.com

JUNE 2017

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture June 2017