ANTHONY BELLUSCHI ARCHITECTS LTD. NORTHWOODS CAFE FOOD COURT AND RESTAURANT FOX RIVER MALL * Appleton, Wis. In the category of Renovated Enclosed Centers (one level), Anthony Belluschi Architects Ltd., Chicago, was awarded the 1999 SADI for its design of Northwoods Cafe Food Court and Restaurant at Fox River Mall in Appleton, Wis.
Fox River Mall boasts the nation's longest average customer stay, so it's no wonder that the existing food court, built in the early '80s, was overflowing. In addition, the mall's owners wanted to make room for a new restaurant.
Along with these concerns, management wanted to give the center a new image, one that reflected the expansive woodlands of northern Wisconsin. The food court end of the center can be seen from a nearby expressway. The existing facade looked remarkably like that of an office building. Another goal was to encourage a family-oriented shopping experience.
Northwoods Cafe Food Court and Restaurant achieves all of these goals. An expansion nearly doubled the existing 400-seat food court, allowing room for four more tenants to bring the total to 13. A 7,800 sq. ft. restaurant and a 2,000 sq. ft. family-oriented restroom facility and customer service area were also added.
The 25'-high, glazed facade was replaced with a 65'-high glass gable end, a clerestory with custom interior chandeliers, stone and wood column cladding, brick, stone and glazed curtain-wall facade and a porcelain-tile floor. Inside, billboards of country scenes, a 300"-long bulkhead frieze and 11" x 14" photographs throughout the food court recall some of the local scenery.
Group-friendly seating areas within the food court enhance the family-oriented shopping approach of the entire center. The new sit-down restaurant, meanwhile, appeals to the dinner crowd and movie patrons.
Northwoods Cafe Food Court and Restaurant met all the design challenges and did so in a way that successfully reflects the indigenous culture.
AWARD RECIPIENT ANTHONY BELLUSCHI ARCHITECTS LTD.
Chicago
Anthony Belluschi AIA (principal-in-charge); Craig Roney AIA (project planner); James Kreps AIA, CSI (project manager); Keith Campbell AIA (project concept designer); Julie Wentworth (project architect)
CLIENT: GENERAL GROWTH PROPERTIESChicago
Product Manufacturers/Suppliers: Eskenazi & Farrell, Chicago (structural consultant); Consentini Associates, Chicago (MEP); Miller Engineers Scientists, Sheboygan, Wis. (civil engineer); Jacobs/Ryan Associates Landscape Architects, Chicago (landscape architect); Schuler & Shook Inc., Chicago (lighting consultant); Miron Construction Co. Inc., Menasha, Wis. (general contractor); Appleton Lathing Corp., Appleton, Wis. (acoustical ceilings); Block Iron & Supply, Oshkosh, Wis. (doors and frames); Carew Concrete & Supply, Appleton, Wis. (concrete); Champion Brick, New Berlin, Wis. (unit masonry); Crafts Inc., Manitowoc, Wis. (metal roofing); DeLeers Millwork Inc., Green Bay, Wis. (finish cabinetry and interior woodwork); Elmstar Electric Corp., Kaukauna, Wis. (electrical); David J. Frank Landscape, Germantown, Wis. (landscaping); Gegare Tile Inc., Appleton, Wis. (tile flooring); K. Kranski & Sons Inc., Green Bay, Wis. (interior walls); Nimsgern Steel Corp., Minocqua, Wis. (structural steel); Omni Glass & Paint Inc., Green Bay, Wis. (glass/painting); Orde Advertising Inc., DePere, Wis. (signage); Spancrete Industries Inc., Green Bay, Wis. (pre-cast concrete); Paul Van Zeeland Heating Co., Little Chute, Wis. (heating/ventilation); August Winter & Sons Inc., Appleton, Wis. (plumbing)