SPARC Awarded design phase of new mixed-use development

Needham, MA SPARC, a minority-owned architecture, interior design, and urban planning studio, has been awarded the design phase of a new mixed-use project at the site of a former Acapulcos Restaurant. Located at 1 1^st Ave., the restaurant was recently demolished to make way for the One First at Needham Crossing development, which is owned by Fox and Hounds Properties of Holliston and being developed in partnership with Feldman Development Partners of Boston.

Featuring 8,500 s/f of prime retail space, SPARC’s team utilized its novel, intelligence-driven approach to optimize the space for its future occupiers. Understanding that the design had to balance the needs of the end-users while creating an attractive storefront for Needham’s Gateway District, SPARC activated the long-dormant property in new ways that will support the development team’s efforts to attract tenants and convert an underutilized property into an active destination for the local community.

Feldman Development Partners brings an extensive background in retail, condo, non-profit, multi-use, and senior care living facilities to the project. Rick Feldman, president, will serve as an advisor to the team. “The SPARC design team has turned our project around and is the main reason it will be the showcase to the Needham Crossing Gateway,” said Feldman.

Currently slated for a 2027 opening, One First at Needham Crossing will accommodate a restaurant with an outdoor patio, quick service dining vendor, a small-footprint technology retailer, and a banking/business services tenant. SPARC addressed shortcomings in previous feasibility studies that led to a misalignment between the proposed layouts and the needs of the targeted occupiers, including lack of serviceability and back-of-house functions that are critical for retail tenants to move in and launch operations as quickly as possible. An extensive portfolio of mixed-use, developer-driven projects enabled SPARC’s team to envision the space with an eye towards function and turnkey operations while understanding the need to balance the design against construction costs, utility line configuration, and floorplan flexibility.

“We are pleased to partner with an architecture firm like SPARC which understands what is required for a retail environment to thrive,” said Jamie McManus, president, Fox and Hounds Properties. “Transforming this property into an attractive, thriving mixed-use space was our goal from the start, and with SPARC, we have a design partner that will help us get there.” 

SPARC is led by Haril Pandya, FAIA, CEO and founder, and Aksel Solberg, AIA, CIO and founder. Prior to launching SPARC, Pandya served as a Senior Principal at HFA/TRIA for two years growing the Mixed Use and Multi-Family sectors and was SVP/Principal at Nelson Worldwide for prior to that. Solberg previously served as the director of HFA’s Development Design Studio where he led a highly-talented team working on small and large-scale commercial, retail, and mixed-use development projects across the United States.