Fred Meyer
Spokane, WA
When executives at the Portland, Ore.-based retail chain Fred Meyer Inc. wanted a new, prototypical store design that could be built quickly and economically—while projecting a soft, aesthetically pleasing image—they turned to masonry. By using concrete masonry units instead of concrete tilt-up construction, the company shaved eight weeks off of its typical construction schedule. In addition, total construction costs on the 158,000 sq ft Wandermere store in North Spokane—where the new design was tested—were $1 million less than the cost of the chain’s previous tilt-up projects. The use of concrete masonry in Fred Meyer’s new store was the result of many months of intense design development. Terry Krause, an architect with Portland’s Sienna Architecture Co., explains that masonry has a rich, high-quality image that’s simply not found in concrete tilt-up construction. In addition, the texture and scale of concrete masonry is a better fit with the neighborhoods in which Fred Meyer wants to locate. More and more, communities demand attractive buildings that blend harmoniously with surrounding neighborhoods as a condition of development. Masonry structures make it easier to win approval from building design committees, as well as customers, says Krause. The Fred Meyer prototype at Wandermere used earth-tone colors and large, curved entry forms to project the new, softer image. That kind of design flexibility was very appealing. What’s more, by using concrete masonry construction, Fred Meyer can use a number of design options for any possible future additions to its basic store format.