Airport Retail Takes Off

Unlike traditional malls where consumers typically go with shopping as their primary purpose, people are usually at an airport because they are traveling or because they work at the airport and shopping is secondary. But, retail at the airport is increasingly important. Since 9/11, we are limited in what we can carry in our luggage and we end up having to buy last minute amenities. More extensive security policies mean we have to arrive at the airport much earlier than in the past, too, so we have more time to spend in the terminal – eating, shopping, connecting, or simply taking a moment to relax. And reduced food and beverage options on the planes themselves mean we want more options in the terminal, packed neatly for carry-on.

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Green Retail: No Time Like the Present

Most retailers are still facing a tough economy, reduced expansion plans and diminished staff. Doing more with less is likely to be a trend for the next few years in retail facility design and construction.

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Design Works: Fairmont Pittsburgh at Three PNC Plaza

Jeff Henry, Design Director at Gensler, sits down with Len Czarnecki, General Manager of the Fairmont Pittsburgh At Three PNC Plaza, to get his thoughts on the hotel’s groundbreaking design.

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Rethinking Sustainable Hotel Design

I recently read a New York Times article suggesting that the still-shaky economy has caused many hotel owners and operators to scale back or postpone sustainable upgrades to their properties – even as meeting planners and travelers are increasingly demanding sustainable practices.

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The Aesthetics of Social Responsibility

Our retail practice has been buzzing about this New York Times article for several weeks now. Aptly titled “But Will It Make You Happy?” its author describes the shift in consumer priorities away from material possessions and toward more fulfilling experiences that create memories rather than superficial status.

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