News & Events
Grand Central
Less than a mile north of the Columbia River and just east of I-5, Grand Central Retail Center opened in April 2008. It is one of the crowning jewels in the improvements that have happened throughout the past decade in and around downtown Vancouver.
Recently honored by the Vancouver Business Journal as the #2 Top Project of 2008, Grand Central is a welcomed feature for many Vancouverites. Anchored by Fred Meyer, additional tenants include Lapellah restaurant, The Rock, Columbia Credit Union, T-Mobile and FedEx Kinko's. These retail tenants offer a level of products and services within a stone's throw from their neighborhoods.
The parties that brought Grand Central to fruition intended to create a village-like atmosphere at the multi-building retail center. To do that, they designed pedestrian paths and plaza areas complete with wooden benches, planters and residential scale lighting, creating a retail environment that promotes community interaction and connection.
Unlike many commercial projects where walls are unbroken and paint is the only differentiator, a variety of finishes-copper, brick, wood, pre-cast concrete and others-create details and points of interest.
Pitched roofs and rooflines at Grand Central Fred Meyer and other buildings at the retail center present architectural detailing that doesn't exist at the sites typically constructed by big box retailers.
Developers wanted to give a nod to the history of the former industrial site, once home to manufacturer Jantzen Swimwear. Aged brick, concrete, and steel echo the industrial past.
Kinetic sculptures scattered throughout the retail center acknowledge the geographic situation near the windy Columbia River.
The parties also strove to be innovative, thus the site and buildings boast a long list of environmentally conscious features. Here is a sampling:
100 percent of the concrete and asphalt that existed at the site was recycled into the development;
- 95% of the materials from the former buildings were recycled;
- Native drought-tolerant plants soften the scenery with low demand for resources;
- Pervious concrete is water-permeable.
- Energy use is reduced via a multitude of skylights, fluorescent bulbs & state-of-the-art freezers and refrigerators; and
- A polished cement floor reduces the need for chemical products (Fred Meyer).
To confirm that these efforts have succeeded and will continue to succeed, one only need to pay a visit to Grand Central. The overall effect at Grand Central is a shopping experience that arguably is unmatched throughout much of Clark County.
