Regional malls must continue to evolve to be vibrant and exciting places. Simon’s Florida Mall in Orlando was once a destination for the luxury shopper, offering Lord and Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue as the region’s first premier department stores. Today, tourists make up a majority of the customer base. To take advantage of the mall’s ideal location between an international airport and Orlando’s world famous attractions, Simon is transforming the Florida Mall into an unmatched shopping, dining, and entertainment experience. VHB collaborated with the project team to develop an open air plaza with retail brands unique to the area, such as American Girl, and a dining district which more than doubled the mall’s restaurant offerings. The mall is also home to Crayola Experience, a hands-on attraction. Future projects will bring in better transportation connections to cater to Orlando’s 50 million annual visitors. The development team’s ability to execute the vision for the Florida Mall will keep it a high performing asset for years to come.