Irvine Spectrum

Irvine Spectrum Center

"Giant Wheel" at the Irvine Spectrum Center as seen from across I-5
Location Irvine, California, US
Opening date November 22, 1995
Developer The Irvine Company
Architect Perkowitz & Ruth (Phase 1)
RTKL Associates (Phase 2)
B.A.R. Architects (Phase 3)
No. of stores and services 164
No. of anchor tenants 2
Website http://www.shopirvinespectrumcenter.com/

The Irvine Spectrum Center is an outdoor shopping center developed by the Irvine Company, located on the southeast edge of Irvine, California, US. The mall features an Edwards 21-screen movie theater.[1] Built over a 10-year period, the first phase of the center opened in 1995 and the second phase followed in 1998. The third phase was completed in 2002. The fourth and fifth phases were built and completed through 2005 and 2006 and are still open to this day.

It has chains including Barnes & Noble, Nordstrom and H&M. Restaurants include Javier's Cantina, The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Yard House, Izakaya Wasa Sushi, California Pizza Kitchen, Johnny Rockets, Veggie Grill, Kona Grill, Red Robin, Ruby's Diner, Chipotle, Corner Bakery Cafe, and Umami Burger. The Irvine Spectrum Center hosts The Improv and Dave and Buster's.

The mall is used for establishing shots of the fictional "Mall of Miami" in the Disney Channel television series Austin and Ally.

History

The stage for Disney Magical Holiday Lights

Master planning of the development of the area began in 1985. In 1989, the Irvine Company completed two 15-story office towers at the site: 8001 & 8005 Irvine Center Drive (now 100 & 300 Spectrum Center Drive). The retail and entertainment portion of the development, then known as the "Entertainment Center at the Irvine Spectrum Center", began construction in 1993. This first phase of the mall opened in 1995 and consisted of Edwards Cinemas' 21-screen multiplex, Oasis Food Court, and Sega City.[2] The second phase opened in 1998, adding shops, restaurants, and entertainment offerings such as Dave & Buster's, The Improv, and NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway. The mall's carousel was added in 2001. In 2002, the mall's third phase opened, adding Barnes & Noble, Urban Outfitters, Giant Wheel attraction, and its first anchor department store, Robinsons-May (later Macy's). In 2005, Nordstrom was the second department store opened. 2006 saw the addition of an Apple Store and the center's third department store, Target.[3][4] Smaller expansions have been added since, such as the Clock Court restaurants and a children's play area. In 2014, the Irvine Improv moved from its original location to a much larger building that previously held the Oasis Food Court. In 2016, it was reported that Macy's would be shuttering its Irvine Spectrum store, which has since been demolished. The Irvine Company plans to replace Macy's with two buildings containing 20 new stores.[5][6] 2016 saw the completion of 200 Spectrum Center, a modern office tower on the northwestern edge of the property that is planned to serve as the North American headquarters of Mazda from 2017 onward.[7] At 323 feet tall, 200 Spectrum Center is the tallest building in Orange County.[8] 200 Spectrum Center's identical twin, 400 Spectrum Center, is currently under construction a block away, and is expected to be completed in 2017.[9] Both buildings were designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners.

Edwards Cinemas

The 21-screen movie theatre was the largest movie theatre in the western United States. During development, the Edwards company code-named it "The Big One". This remained the movie theatre's nickname for a while thereafter until other theatres eclipsed its screen count, particularly AMC's 30-screen complex at The Block at Orange. The theatre's opening attractions were Toy Story and the IMAX 3D feature Into the Deep.

The cineplex was altered in 2000 when the Edwards Cinemas was bought by Regal Entertainment Group. Entrances to theatres were relocated to less-visible locations and were converted to stadium seating which eliminated up to a third of their seating capacity. The theatre was highly visible at night, bearing over two miles of pink and purple neon lights. This night-time visibility has since been reduced by the addition of parking structures and the centre's second phase.

Seasonal offerings

Since 2003, a skating rink has been offered during the winter months, adjacent to the Giant Wheel.

During the 2013 - 2015 holiday seasons, the Irvine Spectrum Center hosted an event called Disney Magical Holiday Lights in collaboration with the Disneyland Resort.[10]

Design

An illuminated fountain, designed after the Alhambra's Court of the Lions
The carousel
A parking structure entrance showing the number of available spaces

The unusual architecture of the property is based on the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, figuring most prominently in the center's second phase.[11]

A white obelisk, which at night features the word "SPECTRUM" vertically projected onto it, is located on the northern corner near the freeway. Prior to November 2005, the obelisk was a multi-color computer generated a display of blues, greens, and purples. During the holiday seasons, season-appropriate symbols were displayed. In the beginning of November 2005, it shined in white, making it a landmark. It conceals a cell phone and television tower inside.

The Irvine Spectrum Center has a Ferris wheel called Giant Wheel crafted in Italy, as well as a carousel fabricated in San Francisco.

As popularity grew, the owner of the Center built two parking structures: one by Edwards, the other by Nordstrom. These structures have sensors that determine how many vehicles are inside. As vehicles enter the structure, a digital display shows how many spots are left on a given level.

As a result of the structures, more space was open to building additional retail stores including as Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Jos A. Bank, 41 Olive, Lily Chai Tea, The Saleen Store (converted to SMS Motorcars), and Target.

Location

It is located inside a triangular area surrounded by Interstate 5 (I-5), Interstate 405 (I-405) and California State Route 133 (SR 133), at the I-5/I-405 split known as the El Toro Y. The nearest freeway exits are Alton Parkway for I-5 and Irvine Center Drive for I-405. It is also near the Irvine Transportation Center.

References

  1. ↑ "Irvine Spectrum Center Movies". Irvine Spectrum Center. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  2. ↑ Huffstetter, P.J. (22 June 1998). "Game for a Fresh Look". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  3. ↑ Cohen, Peter (February 2006). "New Apple store coming to Irvine, Calif. Saturday". Macworld. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  4. ↑ "Irvine Spectrum Center: 20th Anniversary". Irvine Spectrum Center. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  5. ↑ Chan, Alex (7 January 2016). "Macy's at Irvine Spectrum Center to close and be replaced by 20 new stores". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  6. ↑ https://www.irvinecompany.com/irvine-company-announces-a-major-150-million-reinvestment-in-irvine-spectrum-center
  7. ↑ Madans, Hannah (15 January 2016). "Irvine Co. announces three leases for 200 Spectrum Center Drive". Orange County Register. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  8. ↑ Fry, Hannah (29 February 2016). "At 323 feet, Irvine's newest office tower is also Orange County's tallest". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  9. ↑ Goulding, Michael (25 February 2016). "Irvine Spectrum Center tower will have a twin by 2017". Orange County Register. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  10. ↑ "Center Events". Shop Irvine Spectrum Center. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  11. ↑ http://www.summerinspain.net/stuff-to-see-and-do/alhambra/

Coordinates: 33°39′01″N 117°44′37″W / 33.650378°N 117.743504°W / 33.650378; -117.743504

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