Twelve Oaks Mall
Encyclopedia
Twelve Oaks Mall is a super-regional shopping mall
with over 180 stores located in Novi, Michigan
, a suburb of Detroit. The mall is located on the Northeast corner of Interstate 96
and Novi Road. Taubman Centers
is the owner and manager of the mall, and it is anchored by Macy's
, Lord & Taylor
, Nordstrom
, JCPenney and Sears
. It is among the largest malls owned by the Taubman Corporation and one of the largest in Michigan for gross leasable area and total stores. The mall completed a major remodel and expansion in 2007.
and was completed and opened on August 3, 1977, anchored by Hudson's, JCPenney and Sears; the mall was designed by Victor Gruen
and Richard Prince. The head builder was Richard Marrone. Lord & Taylor
was added as a fourth anchor a year after the mall opened. The mall is one of three super-regional Taubman
malls built in Metro Detroit
during the late 1970s, the other two being Lakeside Mall
in Sterling Heights and Fairlane Town Center
in Dearborn.
The mall was constructed on the site of a former gravel pit. Planning for the mall began around 1971. Excavation of the site began in the spring of 1975. Construction of the mall began in the fall of 1975. Prior to its development as a mall, the site was proposed to be used as a landfill. Opposition by residents and the then-Village of Novi prevented the establishment of the landfill. A regional mall was originally proposed to be built in Farmington Township (now Farmington Hills
) at Thirteen Mile and Haggerty roads. Opposition to the proposal in Farmington Township and West Bloomfield Township pushed the developers west to the location in Novi.
In 2002, The Taubman Corporation demolished the defunct United Artists Theatres and made way for a new "Lifestyle Cafe" food court, and allowed kiosks in the mall for the first time. This marked a change in Taubman policy, as it was originally believed that a food court would invite teenage loitering and that kiosks diminished the upscale atmosphere of the mall.
In 2005, The Taubman Corporation announced a $63 million expansion project, which includes a 97000 sq ft (9,011.6 m²) of common space, 30 new stores, a renovation and expansion of Macy's
to 300000 sq ft (27,870.9 m²), and a new 165000 sq ft (15,329 m²) Nordstrom
store. The expansion will make Twelve Oaks Mall one of Taubman's largest mall properties. Construction began in February 2006, with Clark Construction Company taking on the project.
In September 2007, the new Nordstrom opened with over 40 small specialty shops including Martin + Osa
(now closed), the first in Michigan. The new anchor store was built on the southeast side of the mall, adjacent to the existing Lord & Taylor store.
Originally, the interior decor included wood railings with steel bars, terazzo flooring, sculptures throughout the center (on ceilings and floors), and a staircase in the center court. Each court also contained a large modern art
sculpture, and the original three anchors each had four trees.
Unlike sister malls Lakeside Mall
and Fairlane Town Center
, the interior of Twelve Oaks Mall received a series of major renovations, which took place during the 1990s. These renovations included new entrances, seating areas, flooring, an additional elevator in center court, new signage, railings and railing accents, fixtures, and furnishings. At the same time, the sculptures, the center court staircase, and some of the trees were removed. Interior ashtrays were also removed, as Twelve Oaks became a smoke-free mall near the end of the renovation in September 1998. The interior decor now consists of silver, mirrored accents on some of the pillars, modern tiled flooring, and silver railings with glass inserts.
In 2007, the entrances were renovated to include a more modern appearance, a fresh coat of paint was added throughout the mall, and additional accent lighting near the skylights was installed. The basic architecture remains the same with the same skylights and overall ceiling design original to the 1977 structure. Again that year, the mall added a TV area during the opening of Nordstrom
.
Additionally, the seating areas in the JCPenney Court and Hudson's Court were simplified to create more open space and make navigation easier. A play area for children was also built in the Lord and Taylor Court, and later moved to the Sears court, and valet parking became a permanent offering instead of a seasonal service.
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
with over 180 stores located in Novi, Michigan
Novi, Michigan
Novi is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,224, an increase over the 2000 census count of 47,386. The city is located approximately northwest of the center of Detroit, and northeast of the center of Ann Arbor. The city is located...
, a suburb of Detroit. The mall is located on the Northeast corner of Interstate 96
Interstate 96
Interstate 96 is an intrastate Interstate Highway that is entirely within the US state of Michigan. Its western terminus is at an interchange with US Highway 31 and Business US Highway 31 , on the western boundary of Norton Shores southeast of Muskegon. Its eastern terminus is at I-75 near the...
and Novi Road. Taubman Centers
Taubman Centers
Taubman Centers is an owner of United States upscale regional malls and has headquarters in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The Taubman Asia subsidiary is headquartered in Hong Kong. It has the highest selling portfolio of malls in any mall company in the United States.Taubman was founded in 1950 by...
is the owner and manager of the mall, and it is anchored by Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
, Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor, colloquially known as L&T, or LT, based in New York City, is the oldest upscale, specialty-retail department store chain in the United States. Concentrated in the eastern U.S., the retailer operated independently for nearly a century prior to joining American Dry Goods...
, Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
, JCPenney and Sears
Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation is a retail conglomerate formed in 2005 by the merger of Sears, Roebuck and Co., of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, with Kmart Holdings Corporation, of Troy, Michigan...
. It is among the largest malls owned by the Taubman Corporation and one of the largest in Michigan for gross leasable area and total stores. The mall completed a major remodel and expansion in 2007.
History
Twelve Oaks Mall was developed by A. Alfred TaubmanA. Alfred Taubman
Adolph Alfred Taubman is an American real estate developer and philanthropist from Michigan. He pioneered the modern shopping mall concept and was described by CBS News as a "legend in retailing" who became wealthy developing upscale shopping malls. He built shopping mall developer Taubman Centers...
and was completed and opened on August 3, 1977, anchored by Hudson's, JCPenney and Sears; the mall was designed by Victor Gruen
Victor Gruen
Victor David Gruen, born Viktor David Grünbaum , was an Austrian-born commercial architect best known as a pioneer in the design of shopping malls in the United States.- Biography :...
and Richard Prince. The head builder was Richard Marrone. Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor, colloquially known as L&T, or LT, based in New York City, is the oldest upscale, specialty-retail department store chain in the United States. Concentrated in the eastern U.S., the retailer operated independently for nearly a century prior to joining American Dry Goods...
was added as a fourth anchor a year after the mall opened. The mall is one of three super-regional Taubman
Taubman
Taubman is a surname and may refer to:* A. Alfred Taubman* Anatole Taubman* Craig Taubman* Frank Mowbray Taubman, sculptor* George Taubman Goldie* Howard Taubman* Nicholas F. Taubman* Sir William TaubmanAlso see:* Taubman Centers* Taubman Sucks...
malls built in Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
during the late 1970s, the other two being Lakeside Mall
Lakeside Mall
Lakeside Mall is a Taubman-built super-regional full-line shopping mall located in the northeastern Metro Detroit suburb of Sterling Heights, Michigan. The mall is located on M-59 between Hayes and Schoennherr Roads. Lakeside Mall features five anchor stores: J.C. Penney, Lord & Taylor, two...
in Sterling Heights and Fairlane Town Center
Fairlane Town Center
Fairlane Town Center is a super-regional shopping mall in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan. Its anchor stores are Macy's, JCPenney, and Sears. The mall includes an AMC Theatres multiplex, as well as H&M, DSW Shoe Warehouse and Bally Total Fitness among other major stores...
in Dearborn.
The mall was constructed on the site of a former gravel pit. Planning for the mall began around 1971. Excavation of the site began in the spring of 1975. Construction of the mall began in the fall of 1975. Prior to its development as a mall, the site was proposed to be used as a landfill. Opposition by residents and the then-Village of Novi prevented the establishment of the landfill. A regional mall was originally proposed to be built in Farmington Township (now Farmington Hills
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Farmington Hills is a community in southeastern Michigan. It is the largest city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 79,740 at the 2010 census...
) at Thirteen Mile and Haggerty roads. Opposition to the proposal in Farmington Township and West Bloomfield Township pushed the developers west to the location in Novi.
In 2002, The Taubman Corporation demolished the defunct United Artists Theatres and made way for a new "Lifestyle Cafe" food court, and allowed kiosks in the mall for the first time. This marked a change in Taubman policy, as it was originally believed that a food court would invite teenage loitering and that kiosks diminished the upscale atmosphere of the mall.
In 2005, The Taubman Corporation announced a $63 million expansion project, which includes a 97000 sq ft (9,011.6 m²) of common space, 30 new stores, a renovation and expansion of Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
to 300000 sq ft (27,870.9 m²), and a new 165000 sq ft (15,329 m²) Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
store. The expansion will make Twelve Oaks Mall one of Taubman's largest mall properties. Construction began in February 2006, with Clark Construction Company taking on the project.
In September 2007, the new Nordstrom opened with over 40 small specialty shops including Martin + Osa
Martin + Osa
Martin + Osa was a brand concept developed by American Eagle Outfitters. The store's name and inspiration came from Martin and Osa Johnson, a husband and wife team who explored Africa and the South Pacific Islands, chronicling their travels in photographs and diaries.Martin + Osa targeted 21- to...
(now closed), the first in Michigan. The new anchor store was built on the southeast side of the mall, adjacent to the existing Lord & Taylor store.
Architecture
The architecture consists of large, contemporary, geometric ceiling designs with recessed skylights in the center and anchor courts with lower ceilings between them.Originally, the interior decor included wood railings with steel bars, terazzo flooring, sculptures throughout the center (on ceilings and floors), and a staircase in the center court. Each court also contained a large modern art
Modern art
Modern art includes artistic works produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the style and philosophy of the art produced during that era. The term is usually associated with art in which the traditions of the past have been thrown aside in a spirit of...
sculpture, and the original three anchors each had four trees.
Unlike sister malls Lakeside Mall
Lakeside Mall
Lakeside Mall is a Taubman-built super-regional full-line shopping mall located in the northeastern Metro Detroit suburb of Sterling Heights, Michigan. The mall is located on M-59 between Hayes and Schoennherr Roads. Lakeside Mall features five anchor stores: J.C. Penney, Lord & Taylor, two...
and Fairlane Town Center
Fairlane Town Center
Fairlane Town Center is a super-regional shopping mall in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan. Its anchor stores are Macy's, JCPenney, and Sears. The mall includes an AMC Theatres multiplex, as well as H&M, DSW Shoe Warehouse and Bally Total Fitness among other major stores...
, the interior of Twelve Oaks Mall received a series of major renovations, which took place during the 1990s. These renovations included new entrances, seating areas, flooring, an additional elevator in center court, new signage, railings and railing accents, fixtures, and furnishings. At the same time, the sculptures, the center court staircase, and some of the trees were removed. Interior ashtrays were also removed, as Twelve Oaks became a smoke-free mall near the end of the renovation in September 1998. The interior decor now consists of silver, mirrored accents on some of the pillars, modern tiled flooring, and silver railings with glass inserts.
In 2007, the entrances were renovated to include a more modern appearance, a fresh coat of paint was added throughout the mall, and additional accent lighting near the skylights was installed. The basic architecture remains the same with the same skylights and overall ceiling design original to the 1977 structure. Again that year, the mall added a TV area during the opening of Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
.
Additionally, the seating areas in the JCPenney Court and Hudson's Court were simplified to create more open space and make navigation easier. A play area for children was also built in the Lord and Taylor Court, and later moved to the Sears court, and valet parking became a permanent offering instead of a seasonal service.
See also
- Architecture of metropolitan DetroitArchitecture of metropolitan DetroitThe architecture of metropolitan Detroit, Michigan continues to attract the attention of architects and preservationists alike. With one of the world's recognizable skylines, Detroit's waterfront panorama shows a variety of architectural styles. The city's historic Art Deco skyscrapers blend with...
- Metro DetroitMetro DetroitThe Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
- Tourism in metropolitan DetroitTourism in metropolitan DetroitTourism in metropolitan Detroit, Michigan is a significant factor for the region's culture and for its economy, comprising nine percent of the area's two million jobs. About 15.9 million people visit Metro Detroit annually, spending an estimated $4.8 billion. Detroit is one of the largest American...