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Page 14 — Retail Properties Quarterly — November 2017
Retail Trends
A s shopping malls and big-
box stores struggle to com-
pete against the likes of
Amazon and online shop-
ping, there still is an ample
audience of people who want to
leave their homes to shop. Often
these shoppers enjoy the more
intimate experience and getting
to know the vendors and retail-
ers they are spending their money
with.
As a result of this desire among
consumers to personally patronize
shops and boutiques, developers
and retailers have become creative
in the ways they are attracting cus-
tomers. One of the more thoughtful
and popular trends has been the
rapid emergence of market halls.
There are several examples in the
Denver metro area, including Stan-
ley Marketplace, The Source, Den-
ver Central Market and the soon-
to-open Zeppelin Station – and
each is attracting a lot of attention.
This attention is not limited to the
buying public, but also to other
developers and retailers who want
to realize the same level of success.
Designing and building market
halls varies from project to project.
Some are taking historic buildings
and repurposing them to become
large spaces for vendors to sell
their wares. Others are built new
and take on a more modern tone.
Regardless of whether it is a reno-
vated existing structure or new
construction, there are a number of
things for an owner/developer of a
market hall to consider when plan-
ning and preparing for this popular
endeavor.
• Historic pres-
ervation can
equal market hall
prosperity. Many
of Denver’s his-
toric buildings are
being repurposed
for a variety of
uses and market
halls are among
them. People are
fascinated by
older structures,
struck by their
authenticity and
the romance they
conjure of times-
gone-by. These emotions play nice-
ly with the experience of shopping
in a market hall, especially when
the design and construction fully
express the characteristics of the
building itself.
In doing adaptive reuse, it is
essential that the historic fabric of
these building is saved and high-
lighted. This includes things such
as underscoring original materials,
emphasizing unique architectural
features and utilizing interesting
plays-of-light from historic tex-
tures and angles. When repurpos-
ing a historic building for a market
hall, the architect and general con-
tractor must work closely together
and understand that they’re doing
more than just “fixing” the struc-
ture. They are celebrating the origi-
nal character of the building and
letting the building’s charm speak
once again.
Beyond thinking about how to
best bring out the personality of
an older building, its functionality
must be addressed. This includes
finding the ideal solutions to make
the building accessible (for Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act and life-
safety requirements), installing
restrooms and elevators, putting in
modern amenities and addressing
unique requirements from the ven-
dors and tenants. All this must be
done while being respectful of the
original design.
Working with a contractor who
can provide important input on
the design of a building will help
shape decisions and result in suc-
cessful – and more cost-effective
– outcomes. Contractors who have
experience with historic preserva-
tion and adaptive reuse will be able
to recommend solutions that may
not have been considered before.
(For example, The Stanley Market-
place was able to be registered as a
landmark building and receive tax
credits for its renovation.)
• New market hall construction
provides a blank slat e. Building a
market hall from the ground up,
as is happening with Zeppelin Sta-
tion, obviously provides a blank
slate. This can lead to tremendous
opportunities for creative construc-
tion and design, but also can pres-
ent the risk of a lack of personality
and a “cookie cutter” feel to the
vendor spaces. It’s imperative for
the owner, contractor and archi-
tect to work together closely, early
Chris Haugen,
LEED AP
Vice president,
business
development,
White Construction
Group, Castle Rock
Dynia Architects
While some of Denver's market halls are located in historical redevelopments, others are being
built from the ground up, such as Zeppelin Station.