Mill Creek |
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Mill Creek Square is an existing shopping center the owner was looking to update the look and ended up rebranding the center. We were asked to vision where architecture would be in 10 years. Our response in short was this, fads come and go in the built environment but sustainability no matter the wrapping is the future of architecture.
The owners agreed and asked us to design them something cutting edge, yet timeless. The project involved updating the public areas of the center, everything from the boxes out. The existing porch structure was in poor shape and in need of replacement. An existing patio area was not covered and sparingly used. The multitude of roof forms needed unification and the anchor tenant facade was dated. The centers street presence had been negated by road improvements that placed the structure up to 8’ below the grade of the surrounding streets. In phase I, we took on the porches, patio and planters. Phase II, the anchor tenant, should follow in early 2011.
The porches are made up of glulam bents with lantern forms at transition elements. Ends of the building are marked by tower elements that will anchor the structure and allow for better visibility. The patio area will be enlarged and covered with translucent glazing. The project has many elements that make it kinder to the environment then your typical shopping center. We started with the existing structure reusing all that we can from the existing porches and recycling the rest. A long green roof tops the porches. This planted area will help to reduce the heat island effect and slow water run off. In a typical year, these roofs will see over 160,000 gallons of water. Some of the water will be collected in cisterns at each end of the center. Most will go to existing sumps in the planting areas. The water from the cisterns will be used to enliven sculptures at each end of the complex it will then go to a rain garden or an existing swale that handled the parking lot runoff. The swale will be replanted with plants that will assist in cleaning the water before it reenters the eco system. Metal mesh will be added to the west elevation, currently a large blank wall, the mesh will support vines that will grow to shade the structure and break up the facade. The project will also enlarge some planters to bring the plantings and sculpture elements more in view and to assist in correcting some tight traffic areas. Phase II, will also address the parking area by attempting to slow vehicular traffic. |
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