MetWest International is a beautifully designed, 32-acre mixed-use development in the heart of Tampa’s Westshore Business District. Green Spaces, plazas, retail, hotel, residential, and office space work seamlessly together in this sophisticated urban setting. Recognizing the need for retail expertise, the developer partnered with api(+) to plan and design the dynamic retail component of the development. It offers of amenities from beauty and exercise to banking and brokerage services to unparalleled dining. Our design goal was to create a differentiated retail vocabulary that unifies the site’s existing and proposed buildings and provides a fresh take on tropical retail architecture. Because the site is surrounded by many retail developments, including Tampa Bay’s premier indoor mall, International Plaza, MetWest had to command attention while fitting within its mixed-use campus setting. This goal was achieved by creating overtly dramatic architectural forms tempered with a rich Earth-tone palette of materials and finishes.