Fashion Island planner’s presentation will take listeners back to the mall’s beginnings
In the early 1960s, Alberto “Al” Treviño, then a principal planner with the Irvine Co., thought the concept of building an enclosed mall at Newport Center was the wrong idea.
With its proximity to cool ocean breezes, the Newport Beach mall, called Fashion Island, would be perfect for an outdoor setting, he thought.
But the powers that be needed convincing, Treviño recalled in an interview this week. So during a trip to Chicago, Treviño took a group to Old Orchard mall in nearby Skokie, Ill.
Old Orchard, which opened in 1956, is now considered a prototype of outdoor, suburban American shopping malls.
The group was impressed. In 1967, Fashion Island debuted as an open-air mall.
“It worked out, and I had a major hand in developing the concept,” said Treviño, 84.
Treviño, who worked at the Irvine Co. from 1961 to 1965 before leaving for General Electric, is one of three people scheduled to speak about the beginning, growth and evolution of Fashion Island and the Newport Center area during a free event Monday night at the Newport Beach Central Library.
The lecture’s title, “From Pup Tents to Prominence,” references Newport Center’s early history as the site of the 1953 National Scout Jamboree and its progression to modern-day prestige as a base of business and entertainment.
Also set to speak are William Watt, who oversaw construction of Fashion Island from 1965 to 1967, and Steven Kellenberg, current senior vice president of the Irvine Co.’s Community Design Studio.
Treviño, who lives in Laguna Beach, said Monday’s lecture will be the first time he has spoken publicly in detail about his contributions to Fashion Island. He also had an indirect hand in its landscaping. He referred the job to Peter Walker, who, like Treviño, graduated from UC Berkeley and Harvard.
Thousands of Irvine residents know Treviño’s work. He designed University Village, which had its 50th anniversary this summer, and Turtle Rock.
He also was the principal planner for Laguna Niguel from 1958 to 1960 and served as assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and George W. Bush.
In addition to the lectures, guests at Monday’s event, sponsored by the Newport Beach Arts Commission, can visit the exhibit “Half-Century Aerial Photography Retrospective: Newport Center/Fashion Island,” which runs through Dec. 2.
Both the exhibit and the lecture were arranged by Fred Emmert and Richard Frost, co-authors of a recent book with aerial photography of Newport Center and Fashion Island.
Irvine-based WoodSnap, which makes technology that prints pictures on wood, also is a sponsor. The company printed the exhibit’s pictures and informational panels.
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IF YOU GO
What: “From Pup Tents to Prominence,” a lecture about the beginning, growth and evolution of Fashion Island and Newport Center
When: 7 p.m. Monday (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Where: Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave.
Cost: Free
Information: newportbeachlibrary.org
