Southgate Market
Chicago, Illinois (South Loop)
Eckenhoff Saunders challenged the conventions of big-box design in adapting this suburban formula to a five-acre urban site. Southgate Market is a critical component in the development of the new Roosevelt Road retail corridor.
The design enhances the streetscape, increases pedestrian safety, solves traffic problems, and minimizes environmental impact. Shoppers are attracted to the vibrant design with its bold colors and glass-walled entrance pavilion that breaks up the horizontal expanse. The planted front walkway and visible storefronts create the sense of an urban marketplace rather than a traditional mall.
Sensitive site design maximizes square footage with multiple levels and separates circulation patterns for pedestrians, cars, and delivery vehicles to ensure efficient traffic flow. A suspended bridge leading to the parking structure evokes Chicago’s tradition of river bridges and provides breathtaking skyline views.