An urban design of banking and retail facilities for Lubbock, Texas

It is my feeling that too many architects today design in a vacuum--that is, they design their one building without regard to the surroundings and what correlations exist in the neighboring structures. Thus in my thesis my aim is the redevelopment and rehabilitation of existing facilities into a homogeneous unit; that even with their different function of banking, retailing, and office space, these functions may operate harmoniously as a common unit. The unique position of this site lends itself well to being a transitional element between downtown and the college. It could handle a wide diversity of store types with merchandise in a broad style and price range. But · the area is ~ighly congested, lacks adequate parking, and is unattractive in appearance. Business from new growth areas is being intercepted by the new shopping centers, while "old customers" drive a number of miles to a new park-and-shop development or a more easily accessible bank rather than face the congestion and parking problems associated with this older district and downtown. Since this area is an older shopping district that is well located, convenient, and accessible to trading areas of high-density population, but physically deteriorated, it represents a huge investment by property owners, by retailers, and also the community. It also represents an important element in the economic, employment, and tax base of our community. Therefore its regeneration would be a vital asset to the entire community and is the general aim of my thesis. As was stated in my program, the new banking facilities will be the main architectural feature to be solved in detail, and it is in this area which I have devoted the majority of my study.