Property Record
334 CITY CENTER
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Park Plaza Mall |
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| Other Name: | City Center |
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| Reference Number: | 246004 |
| Location (Address): | 334 CITY CENTER |
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| County: | Winnebago |
| City: | Oshkosh |
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| Year Built: | 1970 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2023 |
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| Architect: | Welton Becket |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | Surveyed 2023 by HRL: The former Park Plaza Mall was completed and opened in 1970. It was designed by Welton Becket, a prominent California architect who designed a number of malls across the United States. The overall retail structure was one story though the Sears store at the north end of the mall and the Prange store at the east end of the mall were both two stories. One or two levels of parking were erected atop the one-story part of the greater structure. The mall was constructed largely of concrete columns with brushed concrete panels in between. There were, historically, few exterior windows which helped to keep shopper’s attentions focused on the business of shopping inside by minimizing outside distractions. The Center Court was the mall’s focal point, located more or less in the southwest part of the facility, the Jackson Mall projecting to the north therefrom and the River Mall projecting to the east. Center Court rose four stories above the mall complex and was sheltered by a tower with an open interior, thus giving the Court a cavernous appearance and feeling. Each level on each side of the tower was notable for three, horizontal, long, narrow window units, each unit with twelve lights four windows wide and three high. Interior features of the mall included parquet flooring, industrial-like wooden furniture in the commons areas, two mall anchor/department stores and at least forty small retailers. A 1984 enlargement accommodated the addition of a third department store (JCPenney Company) and additional small stores. Also added at the time was a food court subsequently enlarged in 1991. |
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| Bibliographic References: |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |