Heat Island Properties of an Enclosed Multi-Level Suburban Shopping Center

Open Access

Abstract

Woodfield Mall is a new shopping complex located in suburban Schaumburg, 25 miles west of Chicago. Located on a nearly “neutral” site (almost level topographically, with little surrounding residential or commercial development), Woodfield is the nation's largest enclosed multilevel shopping mall. During the period 1 January-31 March, 1972, temperatures were monitored at 84 predetermined sites on and near the grounds of the complex by means of automobile traverses. Sampling was between 2200 and 2300 hours GST. It was found that: a) a distinct but modest heat island (X̄ = 1F) existed at the building complex for the period as a whole; b) the beat island effect ranged from values as high as 4F on “favorable nights”–cold, clear, and calm–to negligible values on “unfavorable nights”–warm, cloudy, and windy; c) no appreciable mean temperature differences existed between the sampling sites south and west of the central building and those north east of it, at least in terms of average monthly values. It was concluded that a totally enclosed shopping center does create a definite heat island under proper meteorological conditions, but that the effect is probably less than that of comparable “traditional” shopping centers, which consist of numerous scattered buildings of various shapes and, sizes.

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