Entries close on Thursday (5 August) for the annual Retail Design and Development Awards (RDDA) 2010, an initiative of the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) sponsored by Nedbank Corporate.

“The RDDA Awards is an annual celebration of shopping centre design excellence where exceptional shopping centre design and economic success are recognised by the South African property industry,” says Lisa Blane, RDDA committee chairman. “A panel of top judges, who are highly recognised and respected in their areas of expertise, will try to identify these leaders in retail design.”

The nominees should embody the following attributes: excellent design resolution, achieving a clear overall development goal, responding positively to its market and its surroundings, adopting innovative design and construction solutions and embracing environmental techniques.

There are four categories: new super/regional malls and shopping centres, new neighbourhood and convenience centres, expansion or renovation of existing centres; and store design.

“South Africa has experienced a challenging economic period and it will be interesting to see how retail developments have adapted to these challenges,” says Nedbank Corporate Property Finance managing executive Frank Berkeley.

Entries for the retail design development awards will automatically be entered into the 2010 Spectrum Awards. The gala event for the Spectrum Awards will be held in November in Johannesburg, and the winners of the RDDA in all four categories will be announced, together with the Spectrum Award winner for the most outstanding achievement across all categories, in recognition of overall excellence in the industry.

Visit www.rdda.co.za.