Adapting to the times: rethinking the function and design of regional and super-regional enclosed shopping malls in North Carolina
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Victoria P. Orlopp (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Jo Leimenstoll
Abstract: Sixty years ago, enclosed regional and super-regional shopping malls were grand symbols of American retail culture and society. Today these malls remain as a testament to the retail culture of the past, but they are largely stigmatized as outdated and unappealing to today’s consumers. Factors that led to their waning popularity include the Great Recession, online retail, and shifting generational preferences for authentic, convenient retail experiences. Of the 31 enclosed malls built in North Carolina since 1960, seven have been demolished, abandoned, or temporarily closed while awaiting redevelopment, a pattern that reflects a national trend of malls closing at alarming rates. For this study, a database of regional and super-regional NC malls was created, and five NC malls successfully adapted for continued retail use served as case studies. Archival photos were collected to illustrate malls’ pre-adaptation appearance, and site visits were conducted to photograph current mall sites, exteriors, and interior public areas. A visual analysis comparing archival and current photos identifies which strategies to revive underperforming malls are reflected in the design modifications and use changes. The database and analysis generated in this thesis will help designers, historians, and planners understand how this iconic building type can be adapted to meet the times.
Adapting to the times: rethinking the function and design of regional and super-regional enclosed shopping malls in North Carolina
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Created on 5/1/2021
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2021
- Keywords
- Adaptive Reuse, Enclosed Malls, North Carolina, Retail Studies, Shopping Malls
- Subjects
- Shopping malls $x Remodeling for other use $z North Carolina