Del Amo Fashion Center, located near Los Angeles, was once the largest shopping mall in the United States. Built in 1971 by Guilford Glazer, the three million-square-foot mall was a premier luxury shopping destination in Southern California. However, with the rise of online shopping and the 2008 economic downturn, Del Amo faced declining market share.
The mall underwent ownership changes and minor renovations, but a significant transformation was needed. Current owner Simon partnered with STIR Architecture to revitalize the property. The goal was to create a cohesive retail center from the existing patchwork of stores, all while the mall remained open to shoppers. This extensive renovation reportedly cost around $200 million.
The redesign focused on using light, glass, and open spaces to create an inviting and explorative environment. The new design emphasizes a human-centered approach, highlighting retail displays in dynamic storefronts. Connections to the Southern California environment are incorporated through spatial design and landscaping.
Del Amo Fashion Center successfully shed its outdated image, replacing it with a modern aesthetic featuring soaring glass windows, bright skylights, living green walls, and sleek finishes. In collaboration with 5+design, the team applied a museum-like approach to the design of the 2.2 million square foot space. The open and sophisticated design showcases the retail displays in a new light. The northern end of the mall was transformed from a dark and uninviting space into a clean, bright, and stylish shopping experience.
To achieve the desired “lifestyle” experience with natural light and open space, the team chose an intricate structural glass system. W&W Glass was selected to design and install the Pilkington Planar™ structural glass fin wall entrance. W&W Glass and Pilkington had a history of successful collaborations on other retail projects.
Working with STIR and Corona Aluminum, W&W Glass created a grand entrance that was both visually stunning and functional. The vertical entrance wall features Pilkington Optiwhite™ low-iron and Low-e insulating glass units, fixed to low-iron tempered and heat-soaked glass fins using Pilkington 905 series hardware. This system provides a sleek appearance, energy efficiency through low-e coatings, and seismic stability for earthquake-prone areas. The overhead canopy utilizes Pilkington Optiwhite™ low-iron SentryGlas® laminated glass for consistency.
The remodel, which began in 2012 and finished in 2015, included a new Grand Court with natural light from skylights, a glass wall overlooking the center, and two-story facades for retailers like Uniqlo, Zara, and H&M. The renovation was completed in three phases, starting with a one-level mall connecting two existing department stores. The concourse is unified by a continuous light soffit and a softly shaped ceiling with enhanced lighting.
Today, Del Amo Fashion Center boasts a food court, anchor stores like Macy’s, Nordstrom, JCPenney, and Sears, over 200 retailers, restaurants, a fitness center, and an AMC Theatres multiplex. A significant expansion added a two-story, 420,000 square-foot indoor/outdoor mall catering to upscale shoppers and a 2,000-car parking garage, bringing the total parking spaces to over 11,000. Thanks to the renovation and expansion, Del Amo Fashion Center is now the fifth largest mall in the United States, solidifying its position as a leading destination for luxury retail.
