This document discusses retrofitting an outdated suburban retail development from the 1950s in Austin, Texas. The existing development, a shopping center called Alamo Drafthouse, suffers from poor urban design with a single commercial use, large surface parking lots, low density, and an emphasis on cars over pedestrians. The document evaluates two approaches to retrofitting the site: standard urban infill, which would increase density, mix uses, add walkability and green space; and a pattern language approach, which provides a framework of design patterns to create a more identifiable neighborhood with a mix of uses and a network of paths. Both approaches are compared as alternatives to retrofit the outdated shopping center development.

1. Retrofitting Suburban Retail
Case Study: Alamo Drafthouse
By Louis Burns
May 8th, 2014

2. Entry Points?
No Savanna
Preference
No Biophilia
Effect or
Wabi-Sabi
No
Defensible
Space
Poor General
Design
Principles
Fitts’ Law (too
dispersed)
No Hierarchy
Difficult to
build a Mental
Model of site
Difficult
Wayfinding

3. Single use
(retail)
“Parking
Lagoon”
~ 50%
vacancy
Outdated
(built in
1956)
Poor Urban
Design
Principles
Designed
around cars
Low density
Feels unsafe
at night
No green
space

4. Low rise fits
context
Form
Follows
Function
Consistency
Constraint
Effective
Design
Principles
Cost-Benefit
Modularity
Satisficing
Scarcity

5. Standard Urban Infill
• Increase density
• Mix uses
• More walkability
• More green spaces

6. Existing Site

7. Standard Urban Infill

8. Standard Urban Infill

9. Pattern Language Infill
• Identifiable Neighborhood
• House Cluster
• Four-Story Limit
• Degrees of Publicness
• Promenade
• Market of Many Shops
• Network of Paths

10. Pattern Language Infill
• Street Café
• Main Gateways
• Building Complex
• Public Outdoor Room
• Positive Outdoor Space
• Wings of Light
• Tree Places

11. Pattern Language Infill

12. Pattern Language Infill

13. Pattern Language Infill

14. Pattern Language Infill

15. Infill Comparison

16. Pattern Language Infill

17. References
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Design.” ESRI International User Conference. 7/15/2010.
• Ben-Joseph, Eran and David Gordon. “Hexagonal Planning in Theory and Practice”. Journal of Urban
Design, Vol. 5, No. 3, 237-265, 2000.
• Buckley, Michael. “Urban Infill: Mastering Investment Hurdles and Design Opportunities”. AIA
Dallas. Spring 2014.
• Dunham-Jones, Ellen and June Williamson. Retrofitting Suburbia. John Wiley & Sons. 2010.
• Gresham, Smith and Partners. “Complete Street Design Guidelines” Website:
http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/bikeped/CompleteStreets.pdf. Retrieved 05/01/2014.
• Lidwell, Holden and Butler. Universal Principles of Design . Rockport Publishers. 2003.
• Martin, Leslie and Lionel March eds, Urban Space and Structure. “The grid as generator.” Reprinted
in Time-Saver Standards for Urban Design. Ed by Donald Watson, Alan Plattus and Robert Shibley.
McGraw Hill. 2003.
• “Site Design, Parking and Zoning for Shopping Centers”. American Planning Association Website:
http://www.planning.org/pas/at60/report59.htm. Retrieved 05/06/2014.
• Tachieva, Galina. Sprawl Repair Manual. Island Press. 2010.
• Texas Donut Precident. Website: Google Maps.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dallas,+TX/@32.8061244,-
96.7972307,282a,35y,39.41t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x864c19f77b45974b:0xb9ec9ba4f6476
78f?hl=en. Retrieved 05/01/2014.
• Xceligent. Website: xceligent.com. Retrieved 04/16/2014.