Stockdale Redevelops Traditional Downtown Mall to Life Sciences-Retail Hub
Macy’s and Nordstrom gone, downtown San Diego to welcome an ideal mix in 2023.
Horton Plaza is the spot for gathering in downtown San Diego. At least a couple of decades ago when traditional malls fit that bill.
Stockdale, with the help of architect RDC, two years ago embarked on a redevelopment of the popular space, converting a Nordstrom (even adding five new floors atop it) and redesigned the other anchor (Macy’s) to create a new mix of 30% retail and 70% life sciences, tech and office in one of the country’s top life-sciences markets.
It is collaborating with L.A.-based RIOS to reinvent Horton Plaza as the ultimate 10-block mixed re-use campus—a sustainable, high-tech hub. Horton will be the epitome of a modern office—complete with retail, food and beverage outlets, public park space, theaters and more, RDC described.
The building is set to open in October 2023 with tenants starting to assume space in January.
Sean Slater, principal at RDC, said Horton Plaza was a glorious building, one that looked like it should be on the cover of the phone book. “But that was when we had phone books,” he said.
Life Science Buildings Brought Closer to the Public
He said it’s one example of life sciences buildings wanting to bring the public closer.
“Life sciences buildings used to be secluded, away from everything,” he said. “The companies didn’t really want others to know what was going on there. Today, they are ‘moving the line back’ as they say. No more fortresses.”
Slater said that department stores are ideal for recreation of spaces because they have 17 feet to 18 feet between floors. “There’s a lot you can do with that,” he said. “And it’s easy to do so. These are robust structures that are really well built. You don’t have to tear them down. We carried away so little material from this project. This really helps with achieving ESG goals. It was a surgical construction.”
RDC has now incorporated outdoor balcony areas on every floor. “This works great, especially given San Diego’s climate,” he said.
It also features Spanish steps on both sides that lead to open outdoor spaces.
“This is so much better than the fortress concept,” he said. “There, you have to build new and add a bunch of amenities for the employees. We have them all in this new Horton Plaza.”