MCRD Parris Island Retail Mall Complex

The Parris Island Retail Mall Complex is a new single-story, Tilt-Up concrete and steel structure, designed to provide convenience to Marines and their families, while delivering a shopping experience that is both appealing and pleasurable from the curb to the register.

The focal point of the building is the main curved entry panel that is incorporated into all MCCS shopping facilities. The gentle curve simulates a military salute and establishes respect and integrity at the front door. The panel was cast and lifted in one piece and now acts as the preferred design of MCCS Exchanges around the country. This project was extremely challenging because the design had to meet the requirements of the MCX Design Guidelines while achieving compliance with the Base Exterior Architectural Plan (BEAP), and conforming to the Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection requirements.

The design-builder was able to accomplish compliance on all levels through the use of Tilt-Up walls, which resulted in an impressive brick appearance that cannot be distinguished from full-brick veneer. The exterior fully matches the existing brick on the adjacent 40-year old furniture store, and includes visual interest of brick rowlock, soldier, corbel course and architectural precast sills as accents.

Tilt-Up walls act as shear walls to resist blast loads; therefore, there are no vulnerable, localized exterior load resisting elements that can be compromised by an explosion. This required additional enforcing and welded connections. Failure of one element is not readily transmitted to adjacent elements during blast events, thus meeting the Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection requirements. The facility, including significant client-added scopes of work, was completed in 15 months - from design to realization - almost six weeks ahead of contracted schedule completion.