Llyod Center Unveils Vision for Comprehensive Redevelopment

PORTLAND, Ore. - July 29, 2014 - PRLog -- Cypress Equities announced its plans for updating the interior and exterior of the historic shopping center at the heart of the acclaimed Lloyd District adjacent to downtown Portland.

Gateway Pedestrian Entrance

The company previously announced its intention to create a new gateway pedestrian entrance on NE Multnomah St directly across from Holladay Park and the adjacent light rail station. This entry leads pedestrians into the heart of the shopping center and will consist of a transparent glass curtain wall façade serving as an illuminated beacon designed to better connect the neighborhood to Lloyd Center. The pedestrian plaza approaching the main doors will be infused with lush landscaping treatments, bright lighting, ample sidewalk café-style seating, and vibrant storefront displays featuring the west entrance into Macy’s department store.

Spiral Staircase

Once inside the new entrance, shoppers will be greeted by a grand spiral staircase spanning all three levels of the shopping center. Lloyd Center patrons will recall the original iconic spiral staircase that served the shopping center until 1989 and connected the second and third levels. This sculptural element in the redevelopment plan aims to reestablish a memorable image in the center’s rich history and create a signature point of entry. This staircase acts as the gateway to Center Court in the heart of the mall.

Northeast Mall Entrance

Another of Lloyd Center’s common area entrances slated for an update is located between Marshalls and ULTA Beauty on the shopping center’s northeast corner. The façade above the doors will feature a glass and slatted wood theme featuring the new Lloyd Center logo, which was introduced less than a year ago. Both the Halsey Street and northeast mall entrances include additional transom glass and updated storefronts allowing for more natural light to enter the mall, as well as improve pedestrian visibility into the mall concourse. These upgrades are also designed to make the mall’s primary points of access more prominent and inviting.

Southeast Mall Entrance

At the southeast corner of the mall, near Sears, the existing entrance will be refreshed. Continuing the theme of clean, crisp and illuminated lines, the entrance will raise the ceiling, making it more prominent. The existing Salmon Fountain will be restored and showcased with new lighting, making this entrance a beacon within the existing ground-floor parking garage from Multnomah Boulevard.

Interior Common Areas

The shopping center’s interior will showcase new flooring treatments throughout. A new carpet pattern will be introduced on the second and third levels, as well as inset among tiling on the ground floor. The pattern will be simple, clean and sharp, thus reducing the excessive ornament and visual noise of the existing scheme. The ground floor tile will be textural in its appearance and provide a more uniform light color. The effect will be simple, clear lines in a straightforward design that is complementary with the mall’s mid-century roots.

New benches and soft seating, along with planters and other fixtures, will supplement the common areas to create a comfortable environment for guests and provide opportunities to pause and watch the activities of the shoppers.

The east and west concourses will feature updated wood-capped glass handrails. Excessive ornamentation will be removed from the guardrails to promote the clean, simple line of the railing. The mall’s Center Court will highlight a glass rail system with stainless steel caps above wood-clad fascia at the floor openings.

Lighting enhancements within the center will highlight the new design with crisp and clean LED technology. Bulky sconces found on columns along the second level will be replaced with LED inset fixtures behind frosted glass incorporated into the columns. Concourse hallways leading from Center Court will feature new up-lighting, making them far brighter and appealing. Center Court will feature new overhead lighting mounted to theatrical trusses for ease of maintenance and updating.

Food Court

As the focal point of the third level of Lloyd Center, the Food Court will receive an updated look with a focus on upgrading the dining experience. This popular shopping amenity will feature a larger contiguous floor area for seating. New tables, chairs and benches will be strategically positioned in groups to form welcoming dining areas. Each of the Food Court units will be updated with new wood-treated facades and colorful graphics. The restructured Food Court will showcase the center’s new logo on an elevated latticed wood-slat crown that overlooks the ice rink below.

Ice Rink

Finally, the famous Lloyd Center Ice Rink is slated to be reconfigured and upgraded with the rest of the interior improvements. Featuring a more traditional oval design, it will be shifted to the east and become the central attraction of a newly revamped Center Court. The rink will be visible from all three levels where balconies overlook from three concentric oval cut-outs in the floor plan. The existing chalet will be reworked, too. This redesign reinforces the rink’s dedication to providing a recreational opportunity for visitors and allows for more efficient use and visibility of the space around the rink, including the creation of additional retail storefronts. The existing ice-making equipment related to the rink dates back to the opening of the mall, and will be upgraded to new, energy-efficient technology for optimal efficiency.

“Our redevelopment of Lloyd Center focuses on reconnecting with the center’s history,” said Todd Minnis, chief investment officer for Cypress Equities Real Estate Investment Management. “We recognize the importance of the ice rink and have worked to make that the focal point of the shopping center. In addition, bringing back the spiral staircase and showcasing it at the new gateway entrance provides a touch of nostalgia while opening up the mall to natural sunlight and improving visibility and connectivity with the Lloyd District community.”

Lloyd Center is also a contributing member of the Holladay Park Partnership, a new non-profit entity that is a collaboration between Portland Parks & Recreation and neighborhood residents and businesses, including Lloyd Center. The partnership is leading efforts to revitalize the park with programming and events that create a mutually beneficial synergy among Lloyd District businesses, residents and visitors.

“Lloyd Center’s comprehensive remodel will feature stunning interior updates plus a unique and modern facade, creating a more energetic and inviting shopping experience,” stated Chris Maguire, chief executive officer of Cypress Equities. “Our company is pleased to be contributing to the overall renaissance of the Lloyd District.”

Cypress will begin construction of the exterior as early as this fall, while most interior projects will commence after the 2014 holiday shopping season.