Independence Mall
Wilmington
, North Carolina
Featured in Floor Focus, Designer Forum, April 2021
Client: GGP + Brookfield
Project Facts: 93,742 SF · $5 Million Renovation · Center Court · Food Court · Custom Tile Design · FF&E · Building Signage
Project Year: 2019
Project Role: Architecture + Interior Design
Photography: Will Page Photography
ADC renovated the center court and food court at Independence Mall in Wilmington, creating a brighter, more contemporary environment with new flooring, furniture, finishes, seating zones, and building signage. The design drew inspiration from the mall’s proximity to the North Carolina coast, using materials and patterns that reference water, sand, and boardwalk elements.
One of the project’s strongest design elements is the custom center-court tile pattern. Triangular pieces in varying gray, neutral, and blue tones combine polished and matte finishes to create movement across the floor. ADC developed the design as a repeating modular pattern, allowing the installer to work from a clear sequence while making the repetition difficult to perceive in the finished floor. The alternating finishes catch the light as visitors move through the space, giving the surface a subtle rippling effect.
The food court was also reorganized with new banquettes, tables, high-top seating, decorative screens, and patterned porcelain tile to create a more comfortable, hospitality-inspired dining environment.