The design team started the John Knox Village transformation by working together to create a comprehensive campus plan which also facilitated its rebranding. The plan emphasized the importance of openings between existing buildings, revealing an important missing element: a heart at the center of the campus that aligns with the long-term vision for both residents and the community. As a result, the site was reimagined as an “experience district,” with lakeside pathways linking the village’s social, cultural, fitness, dining, and residential nodes.
The plan also proposed two important additions, The Vue and the Terrace of Westlake, two connected 15-story and 11-story residential towers that offer 147 lakefront apartments ranging from 1,277 to 2,346 square feet. The first-floor common areas connect to the lakeside trail, where residents can walk to destinations like the Westlake Eatery, a food-hall inspired dining venue, and BV’s French Press & Wine Bar, which offers quick bites any time of the day along with wine, coffee drinks, and a new favorite among residents—coffee-flavored ice cream treats.
Also at the heart of this redevelopment is The Pavilion at John Knox Village’s Westlake. It includes two unique restaurants, The Pearl and the Seaglass, that are connected through a central bar. Barton’s Nautilus Bar is designed with a nautilus shell-inspired motif and serves as both a dining hub throughout the day and a host station for the nearby restaurants. The Pearl’s interiors feature deep blue sea-themed carpeting and a grand lighting fixture. The Seaglass, a more casual restaurant, focuses on natural materials that convey a clean, modern feel.
The Pavilion is also houses the Cultural Arts Center, where events and performances are open to both residents and the larger Pompano Beach community. Additional amenities include a high-tech projection theater, technology classroom, art studio, spiritual space, club room, and library.
The design team sought maximum energy efficiency with this new comprehensive plan. They achieved that with a consolidated central energy plant that provides cooling across the new development plus two existing buildings on the John Knox Village campus.
