Concord Mills is a 1.4-million-square-foot retail and entertainment destination in Concord, N.C. Designed by St. Louis-based Kiku Obata & Co., the complex embodies North Carolina's crafts, culture and traditions into an entertaining shopping experience. To achieve landmark status, and attract visitors from near and far, Concord Mills had to be recognized as a social gathering place. Themed courtyards offer abstract references to music, crafts, auto racing, basketball, fashion, garden and urban life, while serving as an area for shoppers to gather and chat. For instance, one of the courtyards, the Best Fest Food Court, features life-size aluminum silhouettes of basketball players, inviting shoppers to dodge and weave. Shadow images of hoops and jumping players accent the walls, while a vibrant-patterned terrazzo floor adds life and color to the space.