LOS ANGELES—Recently, several new-construction retailshopping centers have opened in the Los Angeles,illustrating an increase in demand for retail space. NadelArchitects has been the name behind the design for many ofthese centers, including the recently opened Juanita TateMarketplace, a $21 million grocery-anchored shoppingcenter. With new development in the retail sector just beginning topick up, we sat down with Greg Lyon, principal anddesign director at Nadel Architects, to discuss the drivers behindthis new trend and where it is headed.

GlobeSt.com: You just completed two ground-up retailcenters. Do you see higher demand for renovation projects or newconstruction, and what is driving this demand?

Lyon: We are continuing to see agrowing demand for ground retail destinations. The expansionof retail brands has shrunk the inventory of existing vacant spaceto a point where it has triggered an increase in demand for newground up retail space.