The Revival Of Merced

THE REVIVAL OF MERCED BY: RENE GARCIA-RIOS

INTRODUCTION

THE CITY OF MERCED IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY, ABOUT AN HOUR NORTH OF FRESNO ALONG HIGHWAY 99. WITH A POPULATION OF 86,000, THE CITY IS ONLY GETTING BIGGER, AND ITS POPULATION HAS GROWN FASTER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE SINCE THE 80S. THE CITY ALSO HAS A COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND IS THE HOME OF UC MERCED. MERCED HAS HAD A RECENT BOOM IN RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT BUT LACKS THE PROPER RETAIL SECTOR TO ACCOMODATE ITS GROWING POPULATION.

PROBLEM

ALTHOUGH MERCED’S POPULATION HAS BEEN EXPANDING, THE CITY LACKS A PROPER RETAIL SECTOR WHERE RESIDENTS CAN SOCIALIZE AND SHOP. OUR CURRENT MALL IS A SHELL OF ITS FORMER SELF, WITH ABANDONED CONSTRUCTION ENCOMPASSING THE EXTERIOR AND HALF OF THE INTERIOR CLOSED OFF TO THE PUBLIC. THE CITY PRESENTED A PLAN TO RENOVATE IT YEARS AGO BUT STILL NEEDS TO ACT ON IT.

SOLUTION

I PROPOSE A NEW INDOOR/OUTDOOR SHOPPING CENTER. IT WILL FOCUS ON BRINGING AN EXPERIENCE TO THE VISITOR, ENCOURAGING THEM TO VISIT THE CENTER FOR MORE THAN JUST SHOPPING. THERE WILL BE VARIOUS SPACES WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN GET TOGETHER AND SOCIALIZE. IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE FORMS OF ENTERTAINMENT SUCH AS BOWLING, ARCADES, AND A THEATRE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.

SITE CONCEPT DESIGN:

LOCATION

THE PROJECT WILL BE LOCATED ON AN EMPTY PLOT OF LAND IN NORTHERN MERCED ON G ST, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN AVENUES IN THE CITY WITH A DIRECT CONNECTION TO HIGHWAY 99.

TOPOGRAPHY

THE LAND IS RELATIVELY FLAT WITH NO GEOGRAPHICAL FORMATIONS THAT WILL AFFECT CONSTRUCTION.

SURROUNDINGS

• TO THE NORTH OF THE PROPERTY IS EL CAPITAN HIGHSCHOOL • TO THE SOUTH OF THE PROPERTY IS THE CITY’S HOSPITAL, COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND SOME NEW RETAIL DEVELOPMENT • TO THE EAST OF THE PROPERTY IS VACANT LAND AND SOME RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT FURTHER AWAY • TO THE WEST OF THE PROPERTY ARE VARIOUS NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS

PROXIMITY

THE PROJECT WOULD BE THE LARGEST RETAIL DEVELOPMENT LOCATED NEAR UC MERCED. IT WOULD BE A FOUR-MINUTE DRIVE FOR STUDENTS AND IN THE SERVICE AREA OF THE UC BUSES. THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS DOWN THE STREET, AND MULITPLE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS ARE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE.

SITE PLAN: 1” = 200’ - 0” BUILDINGS

PAVER WALKWAY

BARK

GRASS

TREES

WATER

PAVER WALKWAY

ROAD AND PARKING

ANCHOR (60,000 SQFT) JUNIOR ANCHOR (5,000 - 10,000 SQFT) TENANT (1,500 - 3,000 SQFT) FOOD TENANT (500 - 3,000 SQFT+) MALL FLOOR PLAN: 1” = 160’ - 0” RESTROOM (500 SQFT)

MALL DESIGN

THE MALL WILL BE THE INDOOR SHOPPING ASPECT OF THIS PROJECT AND IS DESIGNED WITH THE ART DECO STYLE IN MIND. THE CONCEPT OF THE MALL IS SLOWLY DYING DUE TO ITS OLD APPROACH TO SHOPPING. WITH NEW SHOPPING METHODS EMERGING, SUCH AS ONLINE SHOPPING, THE MALL IS BECOMING OBSOLETE UNLESS IT CAN OFFER AN EXPERIENCE TO ITS VISITORS. THIS MALL WILL FOCUS ON BRINGING AN EXPERIENCE TO THE PEOPLE WHO VISIT TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO VISIT THE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE.

WALKWAY/FOOD COURT

MALL EXTERIOR

MALL EXTERIOR

MALL ENTRANCE

EXTERIOR SHOPPING

CENTRAL PLAZA

THIS AREA OF THE PROJECT CONTINUES THE ART DECO-INSPIRED DESIGN. IT ENCAPSULATES VARIOUS GEOMETRIC AND COMPLICATED PATTERNS THAT POP OUT AT THE VISITOR AND INTRIGUE THEM TO LOOK FOR MORE.

SECTION 4

SECTION 3

SECTIONALIZING

THE EXTERIOR SHOPPING WILL BE DIVIDED INTO SECTIONS, EACH HAVING AN ANCHOR POINT THAT WILL ATTRACT PEOPLE TO EACH ONE. THESE ANCHORS COULD INCLUDE A BOWLING ALLEY, ARCADE, OR ANCHOR STORES. THIS FURTHER INCENTIVIZES VISITORS TO EXPLORE EACH SECTION TO SEE WHAT IT HAS TO OFFER. THIS WILL INCREASE FOOT TRAFFIC ALL OVER THE EXTERIOR SHOPPING AREA, BRINGING MORE BUSINESS TO THE SHOPS. THERE WILL ALSO BE A CENTRAL SHOPPING STRIP THAT ACTS AS AN ENTRANCE TO THE EXTERIOR SHOPPING AREA.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

EACH OF THESE SECTIONS WILL HAVE SMALL CENTRAL SQUARES THE SHOPPERS CAN ENJOY AND SOCIALIZE IN. THESE SQUARES WILL HAVE SEATING AND WATER FEATURES, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SIT DOWN AND DECOMPRESS, AS WELL AS GRASS THAT CHILDREN CAN UTILIZE TO PLAY. THERE WILL BE ONE LARGE CENTRAL PLAZA THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN UTILIZE FOR VENDOR FAIRS, FARMERS MARKETS, FESTIVALS, ETC. THIS WILL DRIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SHOPPING CENTER SINCE THAT IS WHO IT IS INTENDED FOR. THE CENTRAL PLAZA IS ANCHORED BY THE THEATRE.

SECTION 2

SECTION 1

CENTRAL SHOPPING STRIP

BUILDING MATERIALS OLIVE GRANITE EAST CENTER ELEVATION: 1” = 20’ - 0”

TAN GRANITE STOREFRONT GLASS MULLIONS

WEST CENTER ELEVATION: 1” = 20’ - 0”

SECTION 1

CENTRAL SHOPPING STRIP

CENTRAL PLAZA AND THEATRE

SECTION 3 AND 4 FLOOR PLAN: 1” = 60’ - 0” ANCHOR

THEATRE FLOOR PLAN: 1” = 50’ - 0” LOBBY

THEATRE SPACE

SECTION 1 AND 2 FLOOR PLAN: 1” = 60’ - 0”

TENANT