IRVINE, CA – November 21, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Award-winning national firm KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce that Craig T. Chinn, Associate Principal and head of KTGY’s Retail and Commercial Studio, has been invited to participate as a roundtable facilitator at the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) 2013 CenterBuild Conference held from December 4-6, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, AZ. Chinn will present “Top 10 Mall Renovations that Pay You Back,” on Thursday, December 5, at 8:00 a.m., as part of the roundtable program. The CenterBuild Conference is the industry’s premier retail design and construction conference.
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“The retail market is fickle and is constantly reinventing itself,” said Chinn. “The developers that have embraced this and capitalized on the ability to provide a fresh, new product with speed to market are reaping the rewards.
“Our roundtable discussion will help developers know what the cost of repositioning a project from one use to another,” said Chinn. “We will have multiple scenarios and the costs associated with each type of design element. For example, attendees will learn what the cost implications are to add a store front to an existing block wall.”
According to Chinn, roundtable attendees will also learn what elements are critical to a mall renovation, what designs are most appropriate, and what gives you the biggest bang for your buck. Chinn will also discuss specific examples and what to focus on first.
Chinn stated that there are five areas a developer needs to consider for a successful mall renovation project:
- Design with the tenants in mind.
- Neutral pallets that provide a framework for tenants.
- Energy- and nature-efficient designs are good for the environment and for energy savings.
- Light and bright from the parking lot to the restrooms.
- Comfort inside and out for the shoppers.
“An architect can create a strategic plan and design to reposition any type of building. However, just because it can be done, doesn’t mean you should, which is why it is imperative that you understand all the costs associated with the design and construction before you move forward,” Chinn explained.
KTGY has also developed two unique concepts that are being used by top retailers and developers nationwide, which increases speed to market and saves money, KTGY’s Mobile Design Studio and a proprietary Site Survey App for the iPad. “The Mobile Design Studio speeds up the entire design process since we can meet with the client; do a survey using the KTGY Site Survey App; and then create a design while on site,” Chinn said. KTGY can sketch a design on site and then use Revit, a Building Information Modeling (BIM) program, to draw the space in 3D, which provides many advantages.
At KTGY, Chinn is responsible for all aspects of the project design, client relationships and business development. During his career, Chinn has been involved in the design and planning of a wide variety of retail and mixed-use retail/housing/office developments, shopping centers, theaters and entertainment centers, and live entertainment venues. Chinn has also designed or participated in the design and project management of numerous headquarter buildings and flagship stores for retailers. His design development and construction document expertise has been instrumental in the successful completion of countless projects. Chinn offers considerable knowledge from schematic design through construction administration and value-engineering services. Concentrating on retail and mixed-use projects, Chinn incorporates years of design experience to achieve the client’s goals. He is currently working on a number of renovations and repositioning of vacant or obsolete retail stores and aging shopping centers and regional malls as well as new development projects.
Chinn earned a Master of City and Regional Planning, Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Chinn is a member of ICSC, Urban Land Institute (ULI) and Construction Specification Institute.
CenterBuild is a dynamic ICSC specialty conference dedicated to the issues of planning, development, design and construction of shopping centers and retail stores. It has a tendency to be highly interactive in addressing local and international development issues. The CenterBuild Conference is the premier specialty conference for design and construction professionals held by the International Council of Shopping Centers. Over the last 30 years, thousands of design and construction professionals have attended this conference, emphasizing an interactive program and encouraging the exchange of ideas. CenterBuild affords maximum opportunities to meet and discuss issues with industry professionals and features nationally known speakers representing Development, Retailing, Department Stores, Design and Construction. For more information about the annual event, visit www.icsc.org.
About ICSC
Founded in 1957, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) is the global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its 60,000 members in the U.S., Canada and more than 80 other countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, lenders, retailers and other professionals as well as academics and public officials. As the global industry trade association, ICSC links with more than 25 national and regional shopping center councils throughout the world. Visit www.ICSC.org for more information.
About KTGY Group
Celebrating 22 years, KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture + Planning, is a national award-winning firm providing comprehensive planning and award-winning architectural design services for residential communities, retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, market trends and financial performance. Serving clients worldwide, KTGY maintains offices in Irvine, Oakland and Santa Monica, Calif., Denver, Colo., and Tysons, Va. See www.KTGY.com
