Between the flagship sessions at this year’s virtual ICSC CenterBuild Conference for architects, designers, engineers and other shopping center development professionals, attendees will choose among 65 breakout sessions conducive to networking. Speakers at these roundtables will guide the discussions and provide opportunities for questions on topics from robotics to social media to lighting and ventilation techniques that can prevent the spread of COVID-19. The conference will run Dec. 2-4.

Hot topics among the roundtables will be mixed-use, omnichannel and safety. Roundtables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. After registering for the conference, please sign up for roundtables in advance by clicking the chair icon to the left of the roundtable on the agenda.

Mixed-use

Mixed-use dominates today’s commercial development activity, whether ground-up projects or shopping centers that are adding residential or office. Architects, designers and planners will share secrets of successful mixed-use development at the following roundtables:

Challenges of Mixed-Use Opportunities Within Vacant Anchor Buildings
Whiting-Turner vice president Anthony Messina
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 4-5 p. m. Eastern

Retooling Retail — COVID-19–Induced Improvements to the Retail/Mixed-Use Experience
Stantec principal Craig Hale
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 4-5 p. m. Eastern

Living Retail — Building a Residential Community at a Retail Center
VHB regional real estate services director Joe Kolb
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 4-5 p. m. Eastern

Challenges Integrating Restaurant and Retail into Mixed-Use Residential and Office Projects
DMA associate principal Julie Brock
Thursday, Dec. 3, 3:30-4:30 p. m. Eastern

Exploring Modular/Container Architecture in a Mixed-Use Setting
CallisonRTKL associate vice president Aarohi Pilankar
Thursday, Dec. 3, 3:30-4:30 p. m. Eastern

Designing a Post-Pandemic, Restaurant-Centric, Mixed-Use Project
Brody Associates president Norman Brody
Thursday, Dec. 3, 3:30-4:30 p. m. Eastern

Omnichannel

Every shopping center needs a strong omnichannel strategy to serve today’s consumers, who buy both online and in-store using a host of services, including same-day delivery, buy-online-pick-up-in-store and curbside delivery. Experts will aid discussions about how design and architecture play important roles in integrating channels successfully at the following roundtables:

Automated Order Picking, Building Automation & Robotics
SGA Design Group principal Travis Hager
Thursday, Dec. 3, 3:30-4:30 p. m. Eastern

Critical Site Design and Safety Considerations Supporting the Rapid Pickup Model for Stand-Alone Retail, Restaurant and In-Line Retail Facilities
CEI retail development expert Charles Ashley
Friday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m.-12 p. m. Eastern

Repositioning a Mall’s Vacant Anchor — Fulfillment Centers & Beyond
RSP associate principal William Wittrock
Friday, Dec. 4, 11 a. m.-12 p. m. Eastern

How Automation and Technology Are Transforming Our Physical to Digital Experiences
Cuhaci & Peterson senior vice president of design Steven Duffy
Friday, Dec. 4, 11 a. m.-12 p. m. Eastern

Safety

The pandemic has made hygiene, crowd control and ventilation key factors in the design of shopping centers. Experts will facilitate discussions about how architecture and planning can help shoppers feel safer and more likely to linger and return to public spaces at the following roundtables:

COVID-19 & Construction — On-Site Safety Tips and Best Practices
Mycon project manager Jason Meuth
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 4-5 p. m. Eastern

Best Lighting Practices for Ensuring Health & Well-Being in the Built Environment
WLS Lighting Systems national account executive Brad Litteken
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 4-5 p. m. Eastern

From Asphalt Parking to Outdoor Seating
Linear Retail senior vice president of construction and development Ralph Perelis
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 4-5 p. m. Eastern

Indoor Air Quality & COVID-19
Gausman Moore president Edward Studniski
Friday, Dec. 4, 11 a. m.-12 p. m. Eastern

Going Forward — Architecture Practice Beyond COVID-19
Laguarda.Low principal Ed Jenkins
Friday, Dec. 4, 11 a. m.-12 p. m.

ICSC’s CenterBuild Conference runs Dec. 2-4. Register here.