Downtown Memphis Mobility Center

60 Beale Street , Memphis, TN 38103 United States

Building Area (sf): 386,495 sf

Completion: August 2023

Architect of Record:

LRK

Frank Ricks, Scott Van der Jagt, Jason Weeks, Sophorn Olsen, Dalton Green

• Owner/Client:
• General Contractor: Flintco and Precise
• Electrical: CIVIL ENGINEER
  Powers Hill Design, LLC
  
  LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
  Kersey/Wike Associates, Inc.
  
  STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
  Chad Stewart & Associates, Inc.
  
  MECHANICAL AND FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER
  Haltom Engineering, LLC
  
  ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
  Liles Engineering Design Consultants, LLC
  
  PARKING AND WAYFINDING CONSULTANT
  THA
  
  LIGHTING CONSULTANT
  CM Kling
  
  AV/SECURITY
  WJHW
  
  SPECIFICATIONS CONSULTANT
  lo.specs LLC
  
• Engineering:
  
• Other:
  
• Photography:
  Ken West Photography, Connor Ryan and Jamie Harmon. Project design images by firm.
  

The Downtown Mobility Center converts an underutilized surface parking lot into a mixed-use transportation hub for the downtown core and entertainment district, linking the city’s major attractions for visitors and residents alike. The architecture responds to the residential, retail, and commercial context, old and new, while providing pedestrian friendly connections, activated building façades, retail fronts, gathering spaces, and new views of the city.

Where once there was a void, the Downtown Mobility Center helps tie together the vibrant urban fabric of downtown Memphis.

Memphians and visitors to the city converge onto this active intersection, linking the city’s entertainment, sports, commercial, and residential amenities. The 7-level multi-modal parking structure advances the urban development plan by meeting the parking demands and allowing a central location for drivers to park their vehicles and then transition to a more sustainable mode of transport. Whether exploring by foot, bike, scooter, shuttle, or trolley, the Downtown Mobility Center seeks to create a modern transit destination that provides a positive experience for individuals and families living, working, and playing downtown.

The prominent site provided opportunities to enhance the pedestrian connection extending from iconic Beale Street to the recently renovated park along the riverfront and from the South Main Arts District to the transformed Renasant Convention Center and Pinch District. With major street frontage on all four sides of the site, the façade design uses a cost-effective perforated metal panel system to break down the scale of the building with an articulated pattern responding to each façade’s different need for privacy. To create a more interesting pattern within budget, a limited palette of 2 colors, 2 perforation sizes, and 2 panel widths are placed to visually represent the rhythm of Memphis Blues music. At the main parking entry to the north, the panel system edge creates two arrow shapes exposing the concrete structure as an architectural wayfinding element for approaching drivers.

Further enhancing the pedestrian experience after parking at any level, murals by local artists provide artistic wayfinding at each elevator and stair core. Internal light fixtures were located to minimize overall light spill into the streets, and music is expected to play over the speakers.

Restaurants and retail storefront space line the street on Main Street and open on all sides of the building, including the bike commuter station positioned on the bike path of downtown’s bike tour. A nominal number of EV parking spaces are provided based on current demand with additional infrastructure and electrical capacity to anticipate future demands.

With the high pedestrian traffic, the south side of the building incorporates a covered plaza adjacent to the historic Orpheum Theatre marquee provides a public gathering space that supports overflow from theatre shows and becomes an impromptu stage for street musicians. The raised concrete plaza marks the path to the most unique architectural feature of the building – an exterior monumental stair cantilevered from the concrete structure to encourage people to use the stair in lieu of elevators, providing stunning views of the Mississippi River and Beale Street. Not long after its public opening, this distinct monumental stair became an unexpected opportunity for locals to promote health and well-being. For example, a fitness group meets at the top floor to do yoga, including walking the stairs, and at other times, a group of firefighters from the nearby fire station utilize the stair to train in full gear.

The lighting and signage strategy plays a part in activating the building façades with a modern nod to the Beale Street neon lighting. Placement of both lighting and signage directs vehicles to parking entries and encourages pedestrian use of the grand monumental stair. The mix of internal lighting filtering through the perforated screens, color changing lights washing select panels, and edge lighting along the canopies and stairs offer the building a new personality at night, allowing not only a safe and inviting walk through downtown but also a new vibrancy that contributes to the pride of downtown