Project: 100,000 SF Shopping Center Remodel

Location: Upland, CA

Date:1996

Quality: Medium

Above: New towers such as this were added at the entrances of the anchor stores. The arched openings repeat the curves of the original barrel vaults.

The original shopping center dated from the 1950's, had unpainted concrete block walls and a full-length, concrete barrel-vaulted colonnade with spindly steel pipe columns. Needless to say it was distinctly showing its age and the owner's initial intention was to demolish the entire building and to start anew.

However, our solution was to revamp the colonnade by encasing the existing steel pipe columns in new concrete ones and to add a short wall on top of the barrel-vaults to support a new roof capped with tiles. This also provides much needed screening of roof-mounted equipment. Additionally, tower structures were added at several points to break up the colonnade and to provide focal points at each of the anchor store locations. These also provided an appropriate location for signage.

The parking lot was also upgraded and concrete curbs and landscaping were added to create a tastefully modern overall effect, in stark contrast to the bland and dated original.