Little
Burtonsville Crossing
Retail Shopping Center
Burtonsville, Maryland
Project Type
Mixed-use, Specialty Retail
Size
130,000 Square Feet
Design Services
Architecture, Site Design
The reimagined Burtonsville Crossing gives 15 acres of retail a new purpose. One built around activity, community, and reasons to stay.
Originally built in 1985, Burtonsville Crossing served as a neighborhood hub for decades before gradually declining as vacancies increased, systems aged, and the experience no longer reflected community needs. Today, over 130,000 square feet of retail has been renovated, and an 8,000-square-foot outdoor plaza anchors the site as its primary gathering space, creating a more connected environment that supports both everyday activity and special events.
PROJECT GOALS
The Burtonsville Crossing renovation restores retail vitality, strengthens community connection, and repositions the center for long-term success.
The project responds to vacancy and shifting market conditions by transforming an underperforming retail center into a more functional and accessible environment. By improving connectivity, supporting pedestrian movement, and introducing new opportunities for shared use, the design strengthens both economic performance and public life.
Objectives
- Revitalize the center through adaptive reuse
- Strengthen connectivity with a central plaza and transit link
- Establish a cohesive identity through materials, lighting, and landscape design
SOLUTIONS
Through strategic site planning and architectural renewal, Burtonsville Crossing reshapes the retail environment as a connected and adaptable destination.
A new outdoor plaza organizes the site and links retail, dining, and transit, creating a consistent rhythm of activity across the development. Updated façades, refined material choices, and cohesive landscaping establish a renewed identity, while reconfigured tenant spaces introduce greater flexibility and support a more resilient retail mix. Together, these interventions reposition the center as an active, everyday-use destination.
RENEWAL THROUGH DESIGN
Reactivating the storefront edge
The plaza-facing storefronts are reimagined as an active edge for dining and retail. Open-air façades encourage visual and physical connection between interior and exterior spaces, bringing activity to the pedestrian realm. A material palette of wood, brick, and stone adds warmth and durability, while improved lighting and landscaping enhance comfort and visibility throughout the site. Infrastructure upgrades support long-term performance and operational efficiency.
CONNECTED PLACEMAKING
Improving movement across the site
The outdoor plaza creates a direct connection between the retail center and the adjacent transit hub, establishing a clear path between arrival, retail, and open space. This improves wayfinding and supports more fluid pedestrian movement across the site, creating a more intuitive and legible experience.
ADAPTIVE REUSE STRATEGY
Building flexibility into the tenant mix
The subdivision of a former big-box anchor into smaller tenant spaces introduces greater leasing flexibility and supports a broader mix of users. Combined with new pad sites, this approach allows the center to respond more effectively to changing market conditions while maintaining long-term viability.
Results
Burtonsville Crossing brings back relevance to a retail center impacted by shifting traffic patterns and tenant loss.
Delivered in February 2024, the revitalized development achieved 75% occupancy and introduced new anchor tenants, a central plaza, and improved transit connections. With updated storefronts and infrastructure, the project stabilizes performance and positions the center for long-term success as a functioning retail destination.
