Designing the common areas of several floors for AmericasMart has given me the opportunity to help make their marketing concepts for each floor apparent. Some floors have up to 150 individual tenants, each with a common product category but each with distinctive lines. The design challenge is to emphasize the qualities that make their common products special in the marketplace. In stores located in shopping centers, the exteriors and storefronts should introduce the store concept within. Most retail buildings are boxy commercial structures that need a distinctive shape, color scheme and architectural details that relate to their product mix.
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- !4th Floor Elevator Lobby
The transitional design concept for the common areas on this floor was suggested by AmericasMart. The mahogany raised panel millwork accented by pressed copper ceiling panels is updated Southern design.
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- Repeated Pilaster Motif in Corridors
This repeated pilaster design is used in the corridors to blend the design concept with the classic contemporary building.
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- 14th Internation Street Elevator Lobby
Each AmericasMart Building 1 floors have two elevator lobbies. This one repeats the eclectic theme with more emphasis on the contemporary elements. The design was built to fit the existing configuration of the elevator banks.
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- 14th Floor Peachtree St. Corridor
The walls on the on the Peachtree Street corridor have raised mahogany paneling below a chair rail. The repeated framed mirrors were chosen to finish the design statement while disguising needed access panels.
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- Pilaster Watercolor Rendering
Before the floor was built, leasing agents requested renderings by Susan Bradford to aid in marketing efforts.
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- Rendering of 14th Floor Elevator Lobby
This watercolor rendering shows the main elevator lobby. Leasing agents used this rendering to illustrate the design concept of the 14th floor to prospective tenants.
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- Boot Jack Plaza in McAllen, TX
Boot Jack Plaza was exterior profile and finishes were selected to fit in the locale and to make it memorable. The custom copper sconces were designed with the Lone Star of Texas and were made in Mexico.
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- Rug & Home in Kannapolis, NC
Rug and Home store in Kannapolis, NC was painted in the colors used in their billboards and trucks. The repeated strong colors tie the store with the effective outdoor advertizing.
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- Hearthwarmings Fascade in Lexington, KY
Hearthwarmings features seasonal products including fireplaces, stoves and casual furniture. The façade was designed to have an upscale residential look. The pediment and the unusual gas coach lights on each side of the front doors add a gas fireplace note.
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- AmericasMart 3rd Floor, Building 1
The 3rd floor was converted from temporary space to an Area Rug floor. The floors are hardwood with a inset rugs and rich colored walls. The design served as a prototype for the 4th, 5th and 6th Area Rug floors.
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- 3rd Floor Corridor Accents
The custom corridor accent pieces were made of wood picture molding, cast iron elements and a woven chenille background.
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- What Fun Exterior
The façade of the What Fun store introduces the colorful elements of the interior. Glossy tile with random geometric shapes repeat the carpet design.
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- The Gardens Elevator Lobby
The Gardens in AmericasMart grew from a 7,000 square foot pavilion to two floors with over 200,000 square feet of tenant spaces. The elevator lobby introduces the theme. The “stone” elements surrounding the hand painted murals could be painted as needed.
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- The Gardens Arched Storefronts
Most of the spaces in the Gardens were open with few walls set along meandering paths, but some of the spaces were semi enclosed like these arched openings suggesting a colonnade.
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- Gardens Meadering Path
The floors in the Gardens were faux finished to suggest grass, stone or brick. All spaces include whitewashed slotwall and lighting to make them move in ready.
