Redevelopment Project Consultants Archives

Ideation Charrette for Mixed-use Redevelopment

01.12.2022 Design Charrette Facilitation, Highest-and-Best-Use, Land Development Consultants, Location-Based Entertainment Consultants, Mixed-Use Development Consultants, Outdoor Recreation Facility Consultants, Placemaking Consultants and Designers, Project Consultants for China, Redevelopment Project Consultants, Tourism Destination Strategy Consultants

With a major Xi’an-based development company, we convened a several-day ideation charrette for mixed-use redevelopment of a land assembly in Xi’an, China. The core focus of the session was property at Shaanxi Weiyang Lake, a unique water body in metropolitan Xi’an. The Xi’an prefecture’s Weiyang District is one of 11 urban districts of in Xi’an, which is the capital city of Shaanxi Province in Northwest China.

This project ideation charrette for mixed-use redevelopment included the client’s development team (Shirong Investments, the Xi’an World Financial Group, and its affiliates) and additional location-based entertainment consultants based in China. In addition to the site’s physical development potential and market factors, the charrette also included consideration of the PRC’s national tourism strategy, PRC statistical tourism data, Xi’an’s cultural identify, and likely changes in PRC strategies for preferred in-country travel destinations. As part of the process, the charrette team toured shopping districts, cultural areas, existing tourism destinations, and the sites for expected competitive offerings.

The Xi’an region is known to many for its archaeological sites situated outside the core metro area, including Bingmayong (the “Terra Cotta Army”), where thousands of life-size, hand-molded figures were discovered buried with Qin Shi Huang – the first emperor of China. Xi’an was also a major departure point for the Silk Road, a network of caravan routes that in ancient times connected China with countries in the Mediterranean and greater Europe.

This is an update to a previously posted article.

Adaptive Re-Use of Obsolescent Properties

09.12.2020 Highest-and-Best-Use, Project Consultants for Tribes and First, Redevelopment Project Consultants

Adaptive re-use of obsolescent properties, an evaluation of potential repurposing alternatives for tribal casino and ancillary property. Using a highest-and best-use analytic framework, a series of alternative re-use programs were considered for the property.

Confidential client.

Mall Redevelopment for Entertainment

01.11.2020 Adventure Parks & Extreme Venues, Experiential Design, Family Entertainment Center Consultants, Location-Based Entertainment Consultants, Malls and Shopping Center Consultants, Mixed-Use Development Consultants, Project Consultants for North America, Rapid Prototyping, Redevelopment Project Consultants, Retail-Entertainment Consultants

AEC was retained by this regional mall owner to explore the mall’s redevelopment for entertainment use, in Niagara Falls (New York). As the design consultant for the project, we considered all manner of repurposing options that could best utilize the existing physical configuration and infrastructure of the shopping center.

The starting point established by client Cocov Destinations, was to provide an all-weather “participatory sports” and recreation facility, serving league and sports club enthusiasts of all age groups. One competitive advantage for the property was the substantial grounds at or about the former shopping center and the potential for using additional nearby land also owned by the developer.

Formerly operated as the Summit Mall, the newly-dubbed Niagara International Sports & Entertainment Center (“NISE Center”) transforms a derelict 850,000-square foot shopping mall into a world-class sports facility. More than 900,000 annual visitors are estimated to participate in or view the athletic functions currently committed in the facility’s first years. This estimate includes the athletes, coaches, friend s, families and other walk in event related (coaches, administrators etc.) traffic. The attendance number is expected to increase as additional leagues and events are booked.

Confidential – At client request, the rapid-prototyping (previsualization) image for this exploration of mall redevelopment for entertainment use, includes limited details only. Shown below, a view of the defunct mall prior to commencement of revitalization effort by Cocov Destinations. Note – this is an update to a prior post.

Defunct regional shopping mall, slated for redevelopment.

Rapid Concepting – Waterfront Recreation Repurposing

01.10.2019 Highest-and-Best-Use, Placemaking Consultants and Designers, Redevelopment Project Consultants

aec Big idea exploration, ideation, and preliminary conceptual design, for redevelopment (regeneration) of major waterfront recreation district in Toronto, Canada. The unusual setting and waterfront access provided opportunities for real submarine tours of a faux sunken city, along with dive experiences and training. The submarine experience is based on an old aec concept explored for an offshore platform in North Miami.

Posted information and images regarding this assignment is limited at client’s request.

Redevelopment Project Consultants - European Region Project Consultants

Redevelopment Design Management – Hotel Illyrian Resort

19.08.2018 Redevelopment Project Consultants, Site Planner

Becovic Holdings Corporation / Becovic Management Group, d.o.o. | Owner representative for conceptual design phase in planning this destination resort for coastal Montenegro, in the south Ulcinj region. Situated on a site footprint that includes the existing Hotel Mediteran in Ulcinj. Project team included Kahler Slater Architects (USA), and Selim Resulbegovic of Ital Design (Montenegro).

The project is involves the redevelopment of a portion of an existing resort hotel, the Hotel Mediteran Ulcinj. Hotel Mediteran is a destination resort situated along the Adriatic coast, in the scenic coastal town of Ulcinj (Montenegro). StoneCreek Partners has provided owner representation support to the facilities management and development teams.

The property was purchased by Becovic Management Group, d.o.o., an affiliate of Chicago-based Becovic Management Group. Another Becovic affiliate organization, Becovic Holdings Corporation, manages Hotel Mediteran and provides owner representation for all renovation and new construction activity.

The Becovic organizations were founded by Husein Becovic, a native Montenegrin who emigrated to the U.S. in the 1960’s. Now retired from the business but active in philanthropy, Husein Becovic purchased Hotel Mediteran out of fondness for his hometown – Ulcinj – and in interest in initiating the greater economic development of the Ulcinj South Coast region.