The remodel of The Village at Sunriver restored what has long been considered a significant and meaningful piece of Sunriver’s history.
The resort community of Sunriver and the original Sunriver Mall was established in the late 1960’s. During that time, the resort community was a trendsetter in the way of environmentally conscious design and building. The community was designed with the intention of reducing impact to the natural environment.
Contrary to popular building practices of the era, the original design promoted open spaces and conserved natural resources. Sadly, the Sunriver Mall had fallen into disrepair over the years and was not living up to its potential as a shopping and recreational hub for the Sunriver community.
In keeping with this original vision and honoring the community’s environmentally conscious values, Lenity Architecture’s plan for The Village at Sunriver was to leave a small development footprint. Tree conservation and green building practices were implemented whenever possible. To compliment the natural environment, the design of The Village is based on the concept of a modern lodge aesthetic with simple forms and natural materials. Cobbles, shingles, and real stone were used throughout the property which blend with the colors and textures of the surrounding environment.
The design intent of the remodel was to capture the essence of Central Oregon, address problematic wayfinding issues, maximize visibility for retailers and create comfortable spaces for visitors to relax and recreate. Our vision was to reinvigorate what had once been the heart of the Sunriver community.
“Personally, every building that gets built and every step toward progress on the property makes me pinch myself. It has been the most amazing project to be a part of–both in the people I’ve had an opportunity to work with as well as the end result for the visitors to The Village at Sunriver. The life that has been revived in The Village is extraordinary. I think of all the people coming there now on vacation, making memories, enjoying great dining experiences outside as the sun sets and the music plays–that experience is priceless! What good is a bunch of buildings, unless they’re is filled with people and the atmosphere is exciting and memorable? That is what this journey has accomplished and that is its greatest reward.”
–Aaron Clark, Project Architect
The first phase of The Village at Sunriver renovation initially included seven remodeled buildings and three new buildings. The renovation included 48,000 sq. ft. of exterior remodel, 26,000 sq. ft. of new building design, and 22,000 sq. ft. of tenant improvements ranging from restaurants, office, and retail space. The overall site is 16 acres and the designed master planned portion of the site to date is eight acres. New individual buildings included The Village Bar & Grill, Sunriver Brewhouse and two retail/office buildings–one with a tower feature and sundial monument signage.
The previous lack of consistent and clearly visible signage had been disorienting for visitors and frustrating to tenants. To address this issue and to reintroduce the mall as fresh and exciting, the Sunriver Mall was rebranded to The Village at Sunriver. In the process, all signage was redesigned and replaced to modern standards. Wayfinding and monument signage consistent with the new brand were placed throughout The Village so that visitors can easily find their way around whether walking or driving.
The new buildings create a central walking boulevard with space for recreation and relaxation. In addition, a central courtyard acts as another outdoor activity area with play rocks anchoring the space both visually and functionally.
When not being jumped over and climbed on by children, the rocks serve as interesting art pieces that mimic the natural beauty of Sunriver. Trees in the courtyard were preserved with seating walls that allow parents to relax and observe their children at play.
The new building designs give The Village at Sunriver distinct frontage with notable entry and exit points. We also conducted a thorough vehicular/bike/pedestrian analysis and moved the main entry a safer distance from the intersection and reconfigured bike paths for safety.
The contagious energy of The Village at Sunriver where this major renovation has sparked interest in both new tenants and business owners.
A key part of the planning, remodeling, and building process was ensuring the tenants could continue doing business with little or no downtime during the remodel or when moving to a new location. For example, The Village Bar & Grill moved all contents from their previous location into their new building and was open for business within only three days.
Lenity Architecture worked hand in hand with the Sunriver Homeowners Association as well as local residents and business owners during the planning, design and building process. The effort invested in these relationships resulted in the entire community getting behind the project.
“There is an energy to the entire village and I dare say all of Sunriver. It is quite palpable. Working here for the past fifteen years like I have, I get goose bumps… these are special times for Sunriver and The Village transformation is at the core of all of this.”
–Hugh Palcic, Assistant General Manager, Sunriver Homeowners Association.
Brewed Awakenings, a new commercial space with a drive-through, in The Village was the first building of its kind approved for The Village at Sunriver. It demonstrates Sunriver Home Owners Association (SROA) and the community’s faith in Lenity Architecture’s ability to plan and execute a solution that meets the aesthetic, functional and unique needs of the community.