Design Solutions for Mixed-Use Development Wins
Design journeys start with the story each building or structure needs to tell. And innovative design solutions help developers identify elements that will contribute to their project’s narrative.
Imagine nautical-inspired cues for a restaurant conceived to conjure seaside memories. A new possibility for evoking the coastal theme at a new project in High Point, NC, incorporates sinuous curves and undulating surfaces reminiscent of oyster shells. Or picture a vibrant polycarbonate facade, as seen at the Art for Art’s Sake (AFAS) headquarters. The reflective surface, offering views of a community park, reflects on the urban revitalization efforts in downtown Winston-Salem, NC.
Each project unfolds in a collaborative design process that communicates the developer’s intention. This is crucial, when the goal for mixed-use projects is to transform a community and offer fresh solutions for how people live, work and play. Through streamlined project management, functional design and collaborative team partnership, mixed-use developers can impact communities for generations.
Transformative Projects
Innovative design for mixed-use spaces delivers even more than meets the eye. Bold, purposeful architecture shapes behavior in the following ways:
Builds Community
At Bailey South, a six-story, mixed-use building in Downtown Winston-Salem, notable features are shared courtyards and outdoor event spaces. These flexible areas host community events and transform the surrounding commercial center into a downtown social hub.
Empowers Business
Flexible retail leasing spaces at Bailey South are designed to evolve with tenant needs. Here, modular retail bays are key elements, providing businesses with adaptable designs based on their unique product displays. This flexibility catalyzes future growth and empowers local businesses to thrive in long-term relationships with the developer.
Leads Sustainably
Energy-efficient facade systems and water-saving landscape strategies are planned for the 20,000-square-foot Tanglewood Park Golf Clubhouse (Clemmons, NC) set to open in 2025. The project’s functional and aesthetic criteria were balanced with the desire for cost-saving operations and a leadership role in environmental stewardship for the Forsyth County-owned public recreation facility.
Bridges Past and Present
Project Rustic, a food and entertainment hub located in Downtown High Point, honors the developer’s family legacy of success that is enmeshed in the town, alongside its storied furniture manufacturing history. Through a blend of architecture, historical references and a community focus, the functional community venue will help supercharge the city’s urban renewal ambitions.
User-Centric Services
Tailored to the unique needs of each client project, innovative solutions deliver even more positive impacts for developers and users, as illustrated by these examples:
Seamlessness
For the Front Street Capital office space (Winston-Salem, NC), collapsible glass walls and elevated terraces connect interior and exterior spaces. This enables year-round usability and access to the adjacent Bailey Park, a public green space.
Healthy Teams
By prioritizing natural light, ventilation and biophilic design across a wide variety of projects, mixed-use spaces promote health and productivity for users. Integrating modern design principles with technology and user-centric functionality is a win for developers and the people they serve.
Customization
In Greensboro, NC, a key feature of one spec retail project is flexible retail bays. These elements adapt to each tenant’s needs, allowing businesses to scale up or down within the same footprint. In each case, bold architectural gestures pair with practical solutions that produce the desired results for developers and the people their projects serve.
Placemaking
Design decisions that serve public needs allow developers to count on positive outcomes within the overall community. Also known as placemaking, this approach represents the intersection between architecture and urban planning. Placemaking aims to transform spaces into destinations that resonate with the public through:
Activation
At Natty Greene’s Brewing Company in Downtown Greensboro, local materials and motifs are incorporated into a new outdoor tasting room that stages events and attracts downtown visitors. The striking design celebrates the art of brewing and blends the history of the brewery’s 20-year impact as a community gathering hub.
Engagement
In Downtown Winston Salem, the urban plaza at Bailey Park integrates green spaces, seating areas and performance zones that encourage public use and participation. A dramatic, cantilevered observation deck at “The Quarry at Grant Park,” also in Winston Salem, NC, enthralls visitors to this former mining site turned urban recreation area.
Walkability
Pedestrian-friendly layouts and transit access attract people on the go and create seamless connections between living, working and leisure spaces.
Collaborative Design Process
Making a statement begins by identifying a client’s vision for the project. This requires outlining a concise design parti, or architectural inspiration. From there, STITCH Design Shop is committed to balancing design ambition with economic practicality. Our strategies include:
Iterative Concept Phases
Early in the engineering design process, we rapidly prototype options and provide order-of-magnitude pricing, helping clients make informed decisions.
Strategic Consultant Partnerships
Collaborating with trusted local General Contractors and independent cost estimators ensures accuracy in budgeting and timeline efficiency.
Value Engineering
We carefully evaluate materials and systems to optimize cost without compromising design intent.
This approach enables our design solutions team to deliver high-quality projects on time and within budget, ensuring a win-win for mixed-use developers and their project’s end-users.