Summit Mall

Welcome to Summit Mall, located in the affluent Akron suburb of Fairlawn. To the analytical observer, an enclosed shopping mall is far more than a mere collection of retail outlets; it is a profound sociological artifact, a…

Our analysis begins at the grand entrance, the primary point of transition between the external world and the highly controlled interior environment of the mall. The architectural footprint of Summit Mall is massive, a sprawling,…

We now step into the primary artery of the mall: the central concourse. This wide, pedestrian-only avenue is the structural spine that connects the disparate retail elements. …

At either extreme of the central concourse sit the massive, multi-level department stores, known in retail parlance as the 'anchors.' Historically, at Summit Mall, these have included giants like Macy's and Dillard's. The…

Our analytical journey must necessarily include the food court, a designated zone that functions as the culinary micro-economy of the mall. From a planning perspective, the food court was a brilliant, relatively late addition to…

Flanking the central concourse are the boutique corridors, housing the smaller, specialized inline tenants. This is the highly volatile, rapidly churning underbrush of the retail ecosystem. …

To complete our sociological analysis, we must exit the climate-controlled interior and examine the vast, sweeping perimeter of the complex: the parking infrastructure. It is a profound truth of mid-century suburban design that…

As we conclude our scholarly dissection of Summit Mall, we must step back and appreciate the magnitude of what this structure represents. It is far more than a venue for commercial transaction; it is a monumental relic of a…