Download Perimeter Mall Field Study

Field Study #1: Perimeter Mall
AP Human Geography
A field study designed to practice the geographic process and refine the students understanding of
the concepts of location, place, region and spatial distribution.
Field studies are an important element of developing, practicing and refining geography skills such as observation, description,
analysis and critical thinking. During this field study students will collect data, make observations and draw conclusions about the
structural content of space within the mall. They will be expected to take field notes on questions included in the packet. Special
focus will be placed on analyzing the dispersion, density and patterns of stores, people and facilities within the mall. The purpose of
this type of spatial analysis is to develop a better understanding of the concepts of place, region and cultural landscape, which are
critical concepts for geographers.
Students will conduct three location analysis of the Perimeter Mall:

Analysis #1 – Nordstroms and Von Maur area – along with surrounding stores (1st Floor) (30 minutes)

Analysis #2 – Food Court and surrounding area (1st Floor) (30 minutes)

Analysis #3 – Macy’s and surrounding stores (2nd Floor) (30 minutes)
For this field study you may work in groups of 3-4 people but each person must turn in all parts of the assignment and be on task and
engaged the entire time of the field study. Good luck!
Due Date: Tuesday, August 23
What do I need to turn in?

Completed Region Analysis #1, #2 and #3. Type your responses to each question on this section (required).

Complete Gender-Age Observation Chart for each region. This page does not need to be typed.

Three colored and to scale maps of Nordstrom's, Macy’s and Food Court Regions. You only need to map one floor for
each region (i.e. 1st floor or 2nd floor, as noted above). Hand drawn maps are sufficient; must be colorful, though.

Read the following quote and then answer the prompt below.
 According to H.J, de Blij “Structures create an assemblage of visible attributes, a composite of shapes that defines the
regional culture. The landscape of culture, however, is in the mind as well as in the eye. Intangible qualities also
contribute to its formation, qualities that would not appear on a photograph or an ordinary map. Enter an African or
Arab town, and you may be greeted by sounds of music and smells of cooking, the shouts of traders and the bustle of
people- all of which will remain essential elements of your perceptions of these cultures”. (de Blij is referring to the
material and non-material elements of culture) … Architecture is a reflection of a culture’s assertion of identity,
values, priorities, aspirations, technology and economy.


One paragraph response to the following question: Explain how Perimeter Mall is a representative icon of our
culture. Include in your analysis a discussion of how it contains and represents both material and non-material
elements of our culture. This should be a well-developed substantial 8-11 sentence paragraph. Please type on a
separate sheet of paper.
Take 4-8 photos that represent the concepts you discuss in your response. One of your photos should be a picture of
yourself (or group) with your assignment as proof of your attendance! Copy and paste your photos onto a Word doc and
include them in the back of your packet (try to fit to one page). You do not need to print in color; Black and white
photos are OK!
Analysis #1 – 1st floor Nordstrom’s Mall Region
A. Location:
1) Describe the absolute location (mathematical location) of Nordstrom’s. You may need to use the internet or a smart phone to
find the absolute location:
2) Describe the relative location (situation) of Nordstrom’s:
3) On a separate sheet of paper, create a map of the structural content of space around the Nordstrom region of the mall. Be sure to
include on your map the name, size and relative location of the stores. The map should be colorful.
B. Place: Sit in the chairs on the 1st floor near Nordstrom’s to get a “sense of place”.
1) Describe what this portion of the mall looks, feels, smells and sounds like. What can you see while sitting in this area?
2) Describe the landscape of the area. Include description of features such as furniture, lighting fixtures, flooring and use of space:
3) How is light used, both natural and artificial, and what is its effect?
4) Describe the people in the region and their activities? Gender, age, ethnicity, type of clothing etc. Activities - Tourist, shopper,
buying, reading, walking etc. (See chart handout)
C. Spatial Distribution & Pattern Identification:
1) Describe the density of stores in the total region of Nordstrom’s. Use terms such as high, medium or low density as compared to
other sections of the mall. Use your definition of the Nordstrom region.
2) Describe the dispersion of stores - how are they spread out? How big are the stores, how spread out are they? What stores are
next to each other? Try to speculate on why they are next to each other
3) How are the stores arranged? What pattern are the stores organized into? (shape) - ie. linear, centralized, random or irregular,
rectangle, cluster. Don't feel limited to this list. Why are the stores arranged in this fashion?
4) Not all of the floor or store space may be occupied. How are the empty spaces hidden? Why?
D. Region
1) Is there internal integration or uniformity in the feature or features defining the region? What are the uniform or common features
that exist throughout this region?
2) What are the boundaries (outer limits) of that uniformity or integration? How is the boundary demarcated or delimited? Be very
specific. Hints: Look at the lighting, type of stores, decorations, sounds, type of building materials, colors etc.
3) How does this region fit into the overall plan or hierarchy for the mall? What is its role and importance to the mall as a whole?
4) Boundaries between regions often have transition zones. These transition zones often have a mixture of characteristics from the
two regions. What type of region is next to the Nordstrom region? Is there any evidence of a transition zone between the two
regions? Explain.
5) Classify the Nordstrom’s region of the mall as any or all of the following types of region: formal, functional, and perceptual.
Explain why it fits or does not fit the definition for each type of region.
Analysis #2 - The Food Court Region
A. Location:
1) Describe the absolute location (mathematical location) of the Food Court. You may need to use the internet or a smart phone to
find the absolute location:
2) Describe the relative location (situation) of the Food Court:
3) On a separate sheet of paper, create a map of the structural content of space around the Food Court region of the mall. Be sure to
include on your map the name, size and relative location of the stores. The map should be colorful.
B. Place: Sit in the chairs in the Food Court to get a “sense of place”.
1) Describe what this portion of the mall looks, feels, smells and sounds like. What can you see while sitting in this area?
2) Describe the landscape of the area. Include description of features such as furniture, lighting fixtures, flooring and use of space:
3) How is light used, both natural and artificial, and what is its effect?
4) Describe the people in the region and their activities? Gender, age, ethnicity, type of clothing etc. Activities - Tourist, shopper,
buying, reading, walking etc. (See chart handout)
C. Spatial Distribution & Pattern Identification:
1) Describe the density of stores in the total region of the Food Court. Use terms such as high, medium or low density as compared
to other sections of the mall. Use your definition of the Food Court region.
2) Describe the dispersion of restaurants/stores - how are they spread out? How big are the stores, how spread out are they? What
stores are next to each other? Try to speculate on why they are next to each other
3) How are the restaurants/stores arranged? What pattern are the stores organized into? (shape) - ie. linear, centralized, random or
irregular, rectangle, cluster. Don't feel limited to this list. Why are the stores arranged in this fashion?
4) Not all of the floor or store space may be occupied. How are the empty spaces hidden? Why?
D. Region
1) Is there internal integration or uniformity in the feature or features defining the region? What are the uniform or common features
that exist throughout this region?
2) What are the boundaries (outer limits) of that uniformity or integration? How is the boundary demarcated or delimited? Be very
specific. Hints: Look at the lighting, type of stores, decorations, sounds, type of building materials, colors etc.
3) How does this region fit into the overall plan or hierarchy for the mall? What is its role and importance to the mall as a whole?
4) Boundaries between regions often have transition zones. These transition zones often have a mixture of characteristics from the
two regions. What type of region is next to the Food Court region? Is there any evidence of a transition zone between the two
regions? Explain.
5) Classify the Food Court region of the mall as any or all of the following types of region: formal, functional, and perceptual.
Explain why it fits or does not fit the definition for each type of region.
Analysis #3 – The Macy’s entrances and surrounding stores.
A. Location:
1) Describe the absolute location (mathematical location) of Macy’s. You may need to use the internet or a smart phone to find the
absolute location:
2) Describe the relative location (situation) of Macy’s:
3) On a separate sheet of paper, create a map of the structural content of space around the Macy’s region of the mall. Be sure to
include on your map the name, size and relative location of the stores. The map should be colorful.
B. Place: Sit in the chairs on the 2nd floor near Macy’s to get a “sense of place”.
1) Describe what this portion of the mall looks, feels, smells and sounds like. What can you see while sitting in this area?
2) Describe the landscape of the area. Include description of features such as furniture, lighting fixtures, flooring and use of space:
3) How is light used, both natural and artificial, and what is its effect?
4) Describe the people in the region and their activities? Gender, age, ethnicity, type of clothing etc. Activities - Tourist, shopper,
buying, reading, walking etc. (See chart handout)
C. Spatial Distribution & Pattern Identification:
1) Describe the density of stores in the total region of Macy’s. Use terms such as high, medium or low density as compared to other
sections of the mall. Use your definition of the Macy’s region.
2) Describe the dispersion of stores - how are they spread out? How big are the stores, how spread out are they? What stores are
next to each other? Try to speculate on why they are next to each other
3) How are the stores arranged? What pattern are the stores organized into? (shape) - ie. linear, centralized, random or irregular,
rectangle, cluster. Don't feel limited to this list. Why are the stores arranged in this fashion?
4) Not all of the floor or store space may be occupied. How are the empty spaces hidden? Why?
D. Region
1) Is there internal integration or uniformity in the feature or features defining the region? What are the uniform or common features
that exist throughout this region?
2) What are the boundaries (outer limits) of that uniformity or integration? How is the boundary demarcated or delimited? Be very
specific. Hints: Look at the lighting, type of stores, decorations, sounds, type of building materials, colors etc.
3) How does this region fit into the overall plan or hierarchy for the mall? What is its role and importance to the mall as a whole?
4) Boundaries between regions often have transition zones. These transition zones often have a mixture of characteristics from the
two regions. What type of region is next to the Macy’s region? Is there any evidence of a transition zone between the two regions?
Explain.
5) Classify the Macy’s region of the mall as any or all of the following types of region: formal, functional, and perceptual. Explain
why it fits or does not fit the definition for each type of region.