Understanding the specific needs and wants of your consumers and working to design and facilitate experiences which align with these in a seamless manner is the key to creating a dynamic shopping precinct. Truly engaging consumers in this process will ensure your development cements itself into the community as an activated hub that can re-ignite the retail flame for future growth opportunities and sustainability. So how are consumer trends re-shaping and dictating future shopping precinct design and experience? We caught up with Susanne Pini, Principal and National Director of Mixed Use Workplace at HDR to learn more about how the evolution of the retail experience is diversifying retail opportunities and opening greater commercial opportunities, ahead of Future Shopping Precincts 2019.

Iconic Australian department store, David Jones, has recognised the need to adapt and transform to meet modern consumer needs, commissioning a $200 million, multi-level refurbishment of their flagship Elizabeth Street Store in order to reinvent the 90-year-old building and offer a more contemporary, inspiring retail experience, whilst celebrating the store’s opulent past.