Page 50 - ArchDC_Summer 2020

to understand and retain elements that were still
valued by the community, such as the food court,
ice rink, and access to public transport. “We wanted
to juxtapose the old with the new,” said Fairbrother.
“Salvaging and enhancing an existing masonry-clad
structure to exude a warehouse vibe gave the project a
feeling of authenticity and a historic patina. Juxtaposed
against this enhanced masonry structure is a warm
modern architectural vocabulary and materials
palette—the balance of the project design.”
Reconceptualizing the mall as a “found space,”
CallisonRTKL “embraced the grit.” The firm not only
maintained a large portion of the existing brick exterior
but extended it to wrap around into the interior of
the site. With new black-framed windows and large
painted letters reading “Ballston,” the main street
façade does indeed resemble a renovated historic
warehouse, helping to counter any lingering negative
perceptions of a faded 1980s-era shopping mall.
“Developers often look for historical reference
points, those things that give a place identity, a sense
of place,” said Lauren Ford, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, of
Cooper Carry, the architects of record. “We aimed to
craft an environment that was ‘of the place’ through
adaptive reuse.”
Keeping the core of the mall intact but removing
sections of the roof and reorienting several spaces
from inside to outside, the design team envisioned
a truly three-dimensional composition rather than
just a single plane of retail space. The project relied
not only on physical renovations to the building, but
also on reworking the range of tenants, focusing more
on restaurants, entertainment venues, and local and
regional retailers, reflecting shifts in the customer
base. “We wanted to broaden the purpose of the space
from shopping and retail to a civic and community
gathering space,” commented Ford.
CallisonRTKL not only removed the roof from the
large atrium that once housed the food court, but also
transformed the space into an outdoor, terraced plaza
now called Quarter Market, which boasts a vibrant
array of fast-dining options.
Fairbrother noted how important it was to “bring
the community into the project.” One of the ways the
architectural team did that was through the design
process for the Ballston Quarter pedestrian bridge,
which involved substantial community input. The
architects also focused on efforts to improve the
streetscape and facilitate access to the site by removing
fences, bringing in more pedestrian crossing points,
and widening sidewalks.
CallisonRTKL was challenged with redesigning
a mall for the 21st century. By deconstructing the
existing complex and creating a new plan that mimics
a traditional city center, complete with public spaces
that encourage spontaneous encounters, the firm gave
the site a much stronger identity. Ballston Quarter now
serves as a true urban centerpiece for its increasingly
walkable and densely populated neighborhood.
Apartment interior.
48 UNCOMMON GROUND