HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – The downtown retail mall in Houston Center will receive a multi-million-dollar redevelopment that is intended to draw customers on nights and weekends.
Brookfield Properties, the owner of The Shops at Houston Center, is attempting to elevate the project beyond serving as a weekday food court for surrounding skyscrapers.
The retail center will be renamed The Highlight. The old name – The Shops at Houston Center – has been dropped.
The 196,000-SF, multi-level project, 1201 McKinney Street, will be a mixed-use development with restaurants, retail and entertainment.
The Gensler architecture firm has been retained for the project.
Gensler’s key challenge is to overcome the fortress-like aura and multi-story brick walls that wrap the exterior of the building without sending adequate signals that restaurants and retail outlets are inside.
The Gensler-conceived solution includes the construction of a multi-level “glass box” where people will enter from a side of the building that’s closest to Discovery Green park and the city’s convention center, a few blocks away.
“We are trying to coax visitors,” says architect Dean Strombom, a principal at Gensler Houston.
The glass extension of the building, along with open-air restaurant seating on upper levels, to enhance its retail and dining presence. Retail such as an upscale golf puttng outlet with food and beverage.
“The Highlight builds upon the successful Phase One of the Houston Center master plan by prioritizing the user experience with upgraded tenant offerings,” said Strombom. “Following key design principles that put people at the center, we can continue to set the stage for more healthy and vibrant communities.”
Harvey Builders will lead construction work, which will begin in December.
Brookfield Properties recently completed extensive renovations to Houston Center office properties, following major upgrades to other towers in its downtown portfolio.
The Houston Center campus includes LyondellBasell Tower, 2 Houston Center, Fulbright Tower, 4 Houston Center and The Highlight at Houston Center.
Brookfield Properties has recently delivered completed renovations at its Allen Center, Heritage Plaza, and Total Plaza campuses. The company also acquired the DoubleTree hotel, 400 Dallas Street, and transformed it into the C. Baldwin Hotel, which is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection brand.
Dec, 5, 2021 Realty News Report Copyright 2021
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File: Downtown Mall Getting Redo
Image: Courtesy Brookfield Properties