WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 4, 2020 – CRTKL has been awarded four major recognitions for various retail projects at the 2020 ICSC North America Design and Development Awards. The ICSC North American Design & Development Awards honor and recognize the premier design and development trends of retail projects, new developments, renovation and expansion projects, and retail store design within the United States and Canada.
“We always appreciate recognition from our industry on our projects’ success,” begins Marc Fairbrother, vice president in CRTKL’s Washington, DC office. “Though they vary greatly in typology, all of these projects are a great example of a broader evolution towards mixed-use that we’re seeing in the retail realm, and we’re glad that visitors and locals alike are enjoying the new spaces.”
JA Jiaozi Authentic Dumplings has been awarded gold for best restaurant in the Retail Store Design category.
The recently-debuted JA Jiaozi Authentic Dumplings restaurant in Irvine, California, represents a new chapter for the well-established Chinese company, which has hundreds of existing locations in China. CallisonRTKL designed a fresh branding aesthetic and strategy, as well as the restaurant’s interiors, to reposition the brand and introduce it to a new market.
Jia, which means home, was the inspiration for the design. The main dining space is open, while the bar area allows diners to watch their food being made through a large glass window. Large vertical dye-cut screens in a motif reminiscent of traditional Chinese screens separate the reception desk and entryway from the dining space and feature a woven texture and reference the serving baskets used for dumplings.
7-Eleven Lab Store has been awarded gold for best retail store between 5,001 and 10,000 square feet in the Retail Store Design category.
Ninety years later and just two miles from the original location where the 7-Eleven convenience concept was born, CallisonRTKL’s Dallas 7-Eleven Lab Store is another first of its kind. This C-store concept has evolved to focus on curation and innovation. One of a handful of new test stores that 7-Eleven plans to open in the US, these stores will provide an innovation platform where the company can experiment with new products, experiences and store designs.
The one-off space holds true to its local neighborhood of West Dallas with corrugated metal, brick and warm wood finishes, colorful art installations, and photos of the original location. The unique retail experience zones combined with flexible fixture designs and signage supports a diverse and future-forward retail initiative.
Ballston Quarter has been awarded silver, sustainable gold in the mixed-use development in the Renovation/Expansion category.
CallisonRTKL redesigned the 1980s-era Ballston Common, opening the space to the neighborhood, updating the retail approach and rebranding the destination. Ballston Quarter is now a mixed-use, work-live-play community with cutting-edge retail that appeals to smart, young urban dwellers in northern Virginia. Ballston Quarter is also a destination, where the area’s best chefs, entertainment options, events and shopping come together in the heart of the city. With unique indoor and outdoor spaces, Ballston Quarter offers one-of-a-kind experiences for everyone: whether you’re grabbing a bite, taking a cooking class, watching a movie, getting a haircut, or buying a gift. A true city center for Northern Virginia, Ballston Quarter is designed with the community in mind.
PetCoach has been awarded silver in retail store design over 10,0001 square feet in the Retail Store Design category.
Through deep market research, CRTKL identified a key customer group who was being under-served: young suburban families who were extremely time-constrained and passionate about being great pet-parents. Through a series of design sprints led by CRTKL, a new business model was developed and deployed: Petco would provide all the products and services to target this customer’s needs—from nutrition to training and healthcare to transportation—all accessed exclusively via a membership app. CRTKL developed two prototype stores in San Diego CA, dubbed “PetCoach”. Results have over 3x membership uptake than expected. The concept won the Retail Design Institute’s 2018 Store Design Innovation award.