Retail

Retail spaces have changed dramatically over the past decade. Enclosed environments, once leading the trend in the industry, have been traded for open-air environments. Many properties that were once solely occupied by retail tenants now have multiple uses, including entertainment, office, multifamily and hotel. In a time when it’s tough to develop, smaller, convenience-oriented projects are dominant, with the redevelopment of regional properties a close second. Finding new life in old real estate is the mantra of today. Retail environments have the future in mind when considering design. E-commerce is integrated into all things retail, and technology has to be considered in new designs. Because physical retail is now viewed as an ever-changing environment by tenants and owners, the flexibility of any new space is incredibly important. What’s being designed today may not be the use in a few years. Also of utmost importance to consumers is placemaking — consumers crave a reason to enter a physical space. They need to feel invited, welcome and intrigued at the same time.  REBusinessOnline recently spoke to a number of retail architects and designers to understand what creating a successful retail environment looks like in the mid-2020s. Incorporating E-Commerce While e-commerce hasn’t been a threat to …