La Plaza Mall

Location: McAllen, Texas

Through exploring McAllen’s culture, we recognized a need to establish La Plaza with a clear definition of place among a landscape where the art of rational building is imperative. Based on simple, innovative and authentic design, the design philosophy centers around two essential architectural ideas. The first is to use the building’s structure to create a significant place within a site. The second is to be sensitive to the local culture— responding to environmental demands with the form of the building. The ideas for the design evolved from our appreciation of the natural environment’s elements, which has inspired the structure’s cultural textures. In this way, the project presents itself like it has always meant to be there.