Client: NorthPark Management

Overview

OMNIPLAN designed the original NorthPark Center in 1965, an architectural icon with strong legacy. Then, in 2006, we completed the expansion which doubled its size and created a 1.5-acre park. The expansion continued the use of white brick as the base palette, and used diamond polished exposed concrete as the dominant floor material. These deliberately-understated materials create a timeless environment, conducive to the display of sculpture or graphic art. Larger-scale areas are moderated with clerestories and skylights. Openings employ vertical fins that filter natural light, creating play of light and shadow throughout the day.

Goals

The Nasher family, who is responsible for the Nasher Sculpture Center, created NorthPark Center more than 50 years ago as a creative way to mix art with commerce and bring art to the people. The beloved center was originally designed as a repository for world-class art, easily accessible by the public. The 10-year-old expansion doubled the size of the center and extended the existing language into a new, larger scale. Careful consideration was given to space, materials and natural light to provide a sequence of timeless spaces for commerce and art. Natural light is admitted to interior space through baffled clerestories and skylights in a ceiling plane defined by expressed concrete structure. The Center features art installations by Joel Shapiro, Mark Di Suvero and Andy Warhol, artists that any museum would be delighted to showcase.

Process

In both design processes, OMNIPLAN worked closely with the owner, the Nasher family, to ensure every detail was just right. In both instances, they trusted OMNIPLAN to design a center that went above and beyond the traditional shopping center experience and created a museum that co-mingled with commerce. The complex project also required coordination with many stakeholders including NorthPark’s management and operations team, leasing agents, Department Stores, existing tenants, and the City of Dallas. It is a demonstration of OMNIPLAN’s ability to manage projects with a wide array of stakeholders.

Additional Information

With more than a dozen design awards, it continues to attract tourists and architectural enthusiasts alike. In 2009, it was the only domestic project to be featured as one of the Seven Architectural Retail Wonders of the World by Shopping Centers Today. One of the original enclosed malls in the United States, it also received AIA Dallas’ 25-Year Award for Design Excellence and the Texas Society of Architects 25-Year Award.