Pointe Orlando to undergo transformative redevelopment

Pointe Orlando, the outdoor dining and entertainment destination on International Drive in Orlando, Fla., will soon undergo redevelopment that will “improve connectivity throughout the center, create gathering places, improve a sense of place, add artistic experiential elements and elevate tenant visibility.”

The 12-month redevelopment will begin this fall, with the property owner Brixmor Property Group investing $32 million into the project.

“Since 1998, Pointe Orlando has been the Convention Center District’s premier dining and entertainment complex. This transformation project joins nearly $2.0 billion worth of new development investment within the I-Drive District,” said Luann Brooks, executive director of I-Drive Business Improvement District. “This type of revitalization is another indication of the willingness of stakeholders such a Pointe Orlando to continue to reinvest in our thriving and growing area.”

The redevelopment plans including constructing a new 100-foot passageway called The Link through the center of the project, improving the connection between Blue Martini’s valet entrance on International Drive to Main Event Entertainment. The Link will feature lit ceilings, artistic floor patterns, and retail spaces. The Link will be created through reconfiguring underutilized retail and office spaces, as well as service corridors.

An escalator will be added near The Link entrance, offering even more access to restaurants, Regal Cinemas, Improv Comedy Club and other nightlife options on Pointe’s second level.

The two valet areas will be upgraded with a new valet canopy, glass overhang, column lighting and signage. Here, guests will be able to wait under cover for their vehicles to be returned. These areas will also be adjusted to increase vehicle capacity.

Over by Capital Grille’s valet area, a new gathering space will be created in the courtyard by replacing an existing pond with new seating, shade structures and upscale lighting.

The corners of Pointe Orlando will be reimagined with a sculptural centerpiece that will announce the project to pedestrians and vehicles on International Drive and Pointe Plaza Avenue, as well as near WonderWorks.

Storefronts inside Pointe Orlando will be raised, extending tenant exteriors and signage for a more retail-focused experience. The project will include more of a façade and dramatic lighting for retail spaces, new way finding signage, upgraded landscaping, environmental graphics, and site amenities. The red brick walkways will be replaced with swirled patterns of colored concrete paving, offering a more walkable surface for guests.

“Given the center’s proximity to the second largest convention center in the country and more than 46,000 hotel rooms, we are very cognizant of our responsibility to create a dynamic, memorable experience of Orlando that can be enjoyed by local residents, leisure travelers and conventioneers,” said Chris Ralph, vice president of leasing with Brixmor Property Group. “Pointe Orlando already generates some of the highest restaurant sales in the country, and this redevelopment will upgrade the center’s appearance and guest experience benefitting Orlandos’ premier dining and entertainment destination.”

Construction is set to begin this September, with completion scheduled for summer 2020. Pointe Orlando will remain open during the redevelopment with construction scheduled around the convention calendar to minimize any event disruption.

To learn more about Pointe Orlando and its offerings, visit PointeOrlando.com.