As the brick and mortar retail environment changes, so do the needs of shopping center owners and operators and architects. Ensuring your facility remains a viable destination means upgrading these retail, leisure and entertainment complexes to become spaces where people not only gather to shop, but also to socialize over lunch or coffee.

Attractive features such as indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, bright sunlit indoor spaces from shopping mall skylights and retractable roofs naturally lead to well-designed , welcoming interiors that encourage customers to linger longer, and perhaps spend more.

Our Sharjah Mall, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates project is home to the Biggest Retractable Roof in the World. At 280,000 square-foot (26,012.85 square meter), this new retail destination will stand alone on the world stage! It will indeed be larger than the stadium retractable roofs that have previously held this world title.

Already completed however, OpenAire has been changing the face of retail for years. Here is a wonderful example:

Located in Guelph Ontario, the owners of this retail facility wanted a year round fully accessible “streetscape”. Guests can wander along the “road” fully protected with an operable retractable shopping mall skylights that meanders along with them. In the summer guests shop outdoors, in the winter they are protected from the elements.