Retail Update and Repurposing Shopping Centers

Across the country, traditional malls have struggled due to shifting consumer habits, the rise of e-commerce, over-retail development, and the loss of legacy anchor tenants that once drove foot traffic. As these anchors have disappeared, owners and municipalities have explored new strategies to reposition vacant spaces, including redevelopment, adaptive reuse, and reconfiguration of large-format boxes.

Many communities are revisiting original zoning restrictions to allow a broader mix of uses—introducing residential, office, healthcare, hospitality, and other commercial functions that were once prohibited. 

Residential integration has emerged as a key component of successful redevelopment, creating built-in demand, supporting surrounding businesses, and activating sites beyond traditional shopping hours. In certain markets, educational tenants—such as colleges, training centers, or community learning hubs—also make sense, providing steady activity and reinforcing civic value.

Join us on April 15th for a discussion by Drew Romanic AIA with Martin Architectural and Matt Renauld, PLA, ASLA with Mahan Rykiel Associates Inc. who will go through their recent experiences ​repurposing shopping centers, where their project transformations focus on creating engaging, human-centered environments that foster connection and a sense of belonging—true “third spaces” that serve as community destinations rather than purely retail centers.