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Construction is advancing on a major apartment and hotel development at the southern end of Springfield Town Center, pushing the area around the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station toward a more urban future.

The project will bring 400 residential units and a five-story hotel to a section of the parking lot between JCPenney and a separate retail hub. Hanover R.S. Limited owns the apartments, while Intermountain Management owns the hotel portion, which is scheduled to open in 2028. PREIT owns Springfield Town Center.

The development reflects the town center’s growing emphasis on dining, entertainment and community-focused spaces instead of relying solely on traditional retail.

Lego Discovery Center was an early addition to that mix. The attraction says it has more than 2 million Lego bricks, along with events, an in-house Lego expert and a team of Master Model Builders who help with complex projects.

Springfield Town Center has also assembled a substantial dining and entertainment lineup that includes Yard House, Dave & Buster’s, Maggie McFly’s, Maggiano’s, Chipotle and Starbucks.

Shopping centers nationwide are undergoing similar changes. Andrew Brezina, a principal at global architecture, planning and design firm CRTKL, has said malls increasingly need to function as neighborhood gathering places. Beyond shopping and dining, these destinations may incorporate healthcare, gyms, coworking facilities and housing.

The Springfield apartment and hotel project follows that model, adding places to live and stay alongside the town center’s existing shops, restaurants and attractions.