Westfield Valley Fair Mall renovation project. The project, with the addition of a new world-class luxury district, was derived to create a new regional hub and influential meeting place. The expansion created two new concourses, a state of the art movie theater, unique in-center activities, indoor/outdoor dining terrace with upscale retail selections.
The outdoor plaza is a key design component that is creatively landscaped with five organic, low profile water features that are arranged throughout the plaza area in quiet area islands. The landscaping design gives visitors the opportunity to remove themselves from main-stream flow so they can take time to breath, relax and enjoy the space. Water feature design is based on using custom precast concrete cladding that is mortar set to waterproofed concrete core. This design approach allowed for irregular asymmetric contours to be created while keeping construction execution simple and uniform with each water feature.
Design protocol for the water feature required they develop a mirror smooth water surface that spills over outward facing cladding areas and recovers below grade in within subterranean chamber that allows the cascade noise to be redirect and amplified. Fixed components were utilized to ensure extended life cycle and reliable maintenance and operation.
Heavy gauge stainless steel was utilized to create compelling weir, fire effects and ground plain curbing. In addition, stainless steel created compelling contrasts within the water features and with the surrounding landscaping.
Two dedicated equipment spaces were provided in the parking garage, directly below the plaza area, to locate equipment, piping and control control systems. This allowed for efficient equipment arrangement that gives the water features high operating efficiency and reliable operation.
Project Owner: Westfield Corporation (www.westfield.com)
Project Design Team: JPRA Architects: www.jpra.com, Office of James Burnett Landscape Architecture: www.ojb.com and Fountain Source Engineering and Design, Inc.
