The recently opened New Santa Monica Place is attracting thousands of visitors each weekend. After being closed for over two years, the newly repositioned center represents one of the first mall remodel developments in Los Angeles and across the US that transforms an existing mall into an urban destination.
The transformation of the existing Santa Monica Place was created by design architect The Jerde Partnership, founded 33 years ago (this October), and whose partners include founder Jon Jerde and Janice Jerde, 25-year Brentwood residents. Jerde is a Venice Beach-based architecture and planning firm that has pioneered the design philosophy of creating memorable places for people through compelling spaces and communal interaction. Santa Monica Pla
ce is the most recent project representing the firm’s expansive portfolio of destinations, which also includes Fashion Island in Newport Beach, Universal CityWalk in Los Angeles, and Fremont Street Experience and Bellagio in Las Vegas.
With the new Santa Monica Place, local developer, Macerich of Santa Monica, sought Jerde to redesign the existing mall into a vibrant and intimate public setting rather than a shopping center. Blending timeless urban principles that predate conventional malls with its organic approach to retail design, Jerde carefully integrated the project into the existing city fabric. The mall was literally and physically opened up to reconnect it to the downtown core. Macerich confirmed Jerde’s approach to remove the roof to take advantage of the favorable climate, an
d the project’s primary path was designed as a street that effectively extends the Third Street Promenade, and trigger greater pedestrian activity into the project and amongst the city’s popular attractions.
Large communal spaces were formed in the center of the project, which features a large plaza for exhibits, performances and other events; and an upper level public dining deck that offers sweeping views of the ocean and mountains that are generally found only in restricted access places, like hotels and restaurants (and more often on top of the Santa Monica parking garages). High-end department stores Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s are new to the city, as well as more than 100 additional retailers that cater to local shoppers and give local flavor.
The eight-year effort behind Santa Monica Place is paying off. Roger Vincent of the LA Times recently described it as ‘Santa Monica Place’s halo effect…’ referring to the increase in visitors and real estate value in the area. At a time when many malls are permanently closing their doors, the new Santa Monica Place has continued to attract large numbers of patrons and visitors since its opening. And adding to its legacy, The Jerde Partnership’s projects worldwide now attract over 1 billion people annually.
