Petrosa Retail Center
The Petrosa Retail Center was envisioned as the commercial heart of a new northeast Bend neighborhood, creating an urban destination that complements and counterbalances established districts like the Old Mill. Centered on an outdoor mall, the plan organized shops, restaurants, and event spaces around a network of trails, promenades, and plazas so that daily errands, dining, and community gatherings all occur within a walkable framework. SZABO Landscape Architecture shaped the site as a sequence of linked public rooms, from street-front patios and intimate frontage spaces to larger civic courts, so the retail core feels embedded within the surrounding single‑family fabric rather than separated from it.
Location: Bend, OR
A key early move was to treat site drainage as an organizing design element. The stormwater swale system is aligned with primary walks and gathering spaces, using planted channels, crossings, and overlooks to provide infiltration while also functioning as a visual amenity. This approach adds a subtle landscape narrative that threads through the project, reinforcing the idea of movement along a green spine as visitors shop, stroll, or attend events.
The outdoor program is intentionally robust and geared toward lingering. Broad hardscape areas accommodate high foot traffic, farmers markets, and seasonal events, while play areas, a splash pad, and generous restaurant terraces invite families to stay and use the space throughout the day and across seasons. Shade structures, overhead canopies, and layered lighting create comfortable microclimates.
At the street edge, the design introduces an urban context of clear crossings, widened sidewalks, and smaller plazas that mediate between vehicular circulation and pedestrian life. Within the interior blocks, plazas expand to accommodate larger gatherings, with paving patterns and planting guiding movement and defining flexible zones for dining, pop‑up retail, and performances. Together, these elements establish an urban, commercial retail center that is scaled to the neighborhood and positioned to become a daily hub and regional destination for Bend’s growing northeast community.
