Developers Use Water Features to Activate Outdoor Areas

Water features have become a favored way to activate outdoor spaces following the pandemic. These property amenities had already been increasing in popularity, but as more owners and developers looked for innovative ways to create safe outdoor spaces through the pandemic, water features have quickly become a top amenity.

“While activating exterior spaces was an emerging trend before the pandemic, mixed-use and retail owners began to enhance and utilize their exterior spaces during this crisis in order to continue operating and attracting customers,” J. Wickham Zimmerman, CEO of OTL, a water feature contractor and designer, tells GlobeSt.com.”

Zimmerman expects the trend to continue following the end of the pandemic, especially as many developers are investing in outdoor spaces. “Going forward, developers and owners will continue investing in their outdoor spaces as a means of being prepared for any future pandemics or emergency situations that might arise,” he says. In fact, bringing these amenities outdoors allows properties to operate amongst a wider variety of health and safety regulations that could be enacted in the new normal.”

Mixed-use and retail properties are the prime users of water feature amenities, although other property types like multifamily and office have also shown increased interest. “Pre-COVID, mixed-use and retail properties had been relying on heavy theming and immersive experiences to engage guests and make their properties must-see destinations,” says Zimmerman. “OTL has continued to field interest from these sectors during the course of the pandemic. In fact, these types of amenities are perfect during a health crisis, as they can operate safely outside and promote mental well-being and a sense of connection with the outdoors and nature. In addition to that, they are also relaxing and beautiful, and they delight tenants, guests, and visitors.”

Water features are typically known as an immersive experience, but the function of these amenities has shifted during the pandemic. “While the nature of immersive experiences has changed during the pandemic, the public’s desire for such experiences hasn’t waned, and this trend will continue to grow as mixed-use and retail projects are reinvented in the post-COVID era,” says Zimmerman. “Incorporating water features into these destinations is a great way for owners to drive more visitors, which ultimately drives foot traffic to the tenants and increases ROI.”