Frank Alvarez
Principal Designer-Concepts,
Westfield Group, Australia
Frank joined Westfield’s Los Angeles office in 1986 as a key member of the company’s original design team, working throughout Westfield’s period of expansion and development in the US.
In 1991, Frank transferred to Westfield Australia to work on various projects, with the Doncaster project as a major focus. His design direction on this project amongst many others at the time, enabled architecture and design to become a part of the shopping experience, in addition to an improved retail offer. Frank returned to Westfield America in 1994 to head the design team working on the Garden State Plaza centre – which was at the time the company’s flagship centre in the US, attributed to its size, retail mix and design.
Frank also became involved with the design and master planning of further expansion of the American portfolio, with an emphasis on expansion of existing centres within mature catchment areas.
Since returning to Westfield Australia in 1995, Frank has overseen a dynamic concept team working on such projects as the refurbishment of Westfield Marion in South Australia, the Westfield Chatswood redevelopment, the rebuilding of Westfield Burwood, and the redevelopment of Westfield Hornsby.
Frank was responsible for design concept and direction at Westfield Bondi Junction. The global flagship centre for the Westfield Group, Westfield Bondi Junction is distinguished largely by its design, which represents a major paradigm shift in the creation of public retail space. The centre is significant in its use of light, glass, quality materials and retail planning: all of which contribute to the building’s ability to portray its interior from an exterior vantage point. Many of the successful ideas and concepts realised at Westfield Bondi Junction have been integrated into the new works at Westfield Parramatta, Westfield San Francisco, and Westfield Century City.
With the recent focus on town centre revitalisation by developers and councils, Westfield has spent considerable time planning and designing its centres at Tuggerah, Kotara, Northlakes, Chermside and Bay City. Frank’s team has designed retail precincts at these centres that provide ambience and experiences now highly regarded by authorities and observers.
With the broad list of successful project outcomes across Australia providing valuable background and experience, Frank and his team are now preparing to unveil new concepts at Doncaster with 3 of 4 stages completed, and Sydney’s Centrepoint. Additionally, Frank maintains an ongoing involvement in the design direction of Westfield’s US and UK operations via project collaboration and precinct design.
Frank has a Bachelor of Architecture from the California State Polytechnic University at Pomona, in Los Angeles, and lives in Sydney.
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Westfield Group, Australia