THE MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT INCLUDES A NEW LOOK AND MORE FEATURES FOR FAMILIES.
The Wichita Eagle - by Andi Atwater
Towne East Square will get a new look this year, renovations that will transform the mall from a high-tech, glass and metal motif to a warm, upscale look.

Officials with Towne East, owned by Simon Property Group, and some Wichita and Sedgwick County leaders "broke tile" Thursday on the multimillion-dollar project.

The new look will include stone-like tile on the lower level, carpet on the upper level and two new entrance facades that do away with the red accents and instead incorporate masonry work and shades of beige. The renovations also will include a children's play area with oversized play items, a reading area and expanded seating for families, as well as new family and nursing restrooms.

"We're trying to enhance the shopping experience, making our family-friendly shopping areas... bigger and better," said Miss Gaston, Simon's area director of strategic mall marketing.

LawKingdon Architecture is designing the project, and the Law Co. is the contractor, continuing a 40-year history of building and renovating Simon properties around the nation.

LawKingdon and the Law Co. designed and constructed Towne East Square, which opened in 1975. This latest renovation of the mall will be the companies' fifth. "I detailed and designed all those stairs," said Dennis Smith, LawKingdon president, who had been with the company two years in 1975. "It's good to see they're still working."

Other renovation features include enhanced interior lighting, new landscaping, and new monument and directional signs at nearly all parking lot entrances.

Construction is expected to begin sometime in June and be completed early next year. Project manager Dennis Kerschen estimated the project could employ as many as 70 people at its peak. The mall will remain open during each phase. Most of the construction work will take place at night.

Reach Andi Atwater at 316-268-6642 or aatwater@wichitaeagle.com