Everett Mall renovation, expansion
Architect: MulvannyG2 Architecture
Owner: Steadfast Companies
ABC members: Andgar Corp., Audio Acoustics, DCI Engineers, General Storefronts, Lakeridge Plumbing & Mechanical, Merit Mechanical, Northshore Sheet Metal, Nuprecon, Olympian Precast, Wilder Construction
In August 2004, S.D. Deacon, Everett Mall management and developer Steadfast Companies launched an aggressive plan to renovate and renew the Everett Mall. Originally built in 1973, the mall had received little care over the year and, in order to acquire key tenants, the owner needed to re-energize it.
The first task was a 225,000-square-foot reroof of about half of the mall. Out of necessity, demolition and reroofing were done directly over operating stores. The old roof was torn off down to the deck, exposing a rusting and decaying structure.
Because the mall is located in a weather convergence zone, one superintendent kept a constant eye on local weather forecasts during roofing. The season was so rainy that crews were kept on call around the clock to take advantage of any break in the weather.
The team handled a sudden shortage of roof insulation due to post-Hurricane Katrina chaos by buying rigid foam throughout the country and stockpiling the cache on the site in backrooms, sheds and storage spaces.
In the first phase, all lighting was replaced in the corridors, which required rewiring but also allowed new corridor kiosks to be placed. Lights and power had to be running at 6 a.m. every day to accommodate mall walkers.
Phase two required S.D. Deacon to lay down a 2-inch asphalt overlay on 10 acres of parking lot in front of the mall. This was done in four sections to keep traffic flowing. Finishing touches included curbing, landscape irrigation and new site lighting.
During the holiday season, crews had to work at night to avoid shoppers. Workers used that time to install barricades, build-out and renovate the mall’s 12,000-square-foot maintenance shop, and strip down and renovate empty retail spaces.
In March 2005, phase three started with moving a 900-foot public access road 50 feet to the northwest to allow for new “village” structures that were to take the place of the recently demolished outlying buildings at the back of the site. Work included major relocation of utilities, power and telephone lines, an upgrade to the back parking area and extensive fencing.
Phases four and five occurred simultaneously and were the most dramatic in changing the look of the mall. The front façade was demolished and rebuilt with two-story glass vestibules in a variety of shapes and roof lines. Also, two junior anchor tenants were worked into the renovated space and six other tenants had their premises upgraded.
Other improvements included replacing the mall’s main electric power gear, re-siding the Sears building, adding new signage and canopies, and reworking another 15 acres of parking lot with lighting, irrigation and signage.
The $21.9 million project was completed with one medical injury and no time-loss injuries during the 38,326 hours worked.