Artist’s impression of the extension to Sandton City, due to open in November 2011.
Commuters, visitors and residents in the Sandton area are already noticing the new Sandton City Shopping Centre extension, which is beginning to change the city skyline.
The super-regional shopping centre’s expansion and refurbishment project – which involves interior refurbishments and 30 000 m2 of new retail space - is set to further fortify the centre’s standing as one of Africa’s leading retail nodes.
“The R1.77 billion first phase of the Sandton City redevelopment, undertaken by Liberty Properties on behalf of the owners Liberty Group 75% and Pareto Ltd (25%), will expand and improve the centre to meet the ever-growing needs of its market,” says Julie Hillary, Liberty Properties’ general manager for the Sandton region.
“As the face of the Sandton CBD changes with the addition of developments such as the Gautrain, so should that of its leading retail development.”
This is the first phase of a broader vision for the repositioning of the centre. Liberty Properties’ master vision is to ensure the Sandton City complex evolves in response to global design trends, its surroundings, its consumers and its retailers.
Sandton City’s entire retail space, including the extension, will total 143 690 m2 on completion of this phase, set to open in late 2011. This will take the complex, which includes the hotel and office component, to a massive 215 000 m2, compared to the opening in 1973, when it consisted of just 50 000 m2 across four levels, 120 stores and 2 500 parking bays.
The external expansion is moving along swiftly with six tower cranes and over 1 000 personnel on the construction site daily. Over 5 100 m2 of brickwork has taken place to-date and 10 tons of structural steelwork has been completed. In total, 255 500 man hours were completed in July.
Liberty Properties says the Spanish fashion brand Zara has signed up to take a 2 100 m2 store in the new extension. This store will bring their full range of ladies, means and children’s range to South Africa.
Maurice Mdlolo, Liberty Properties’ chief operating officer says other confirmed retailers include a 1 100 m2 Trenery & Country Road, a new 1 000 m2 Incredible Connection and new flagship stores for Foschini, Truworths & Mr Price.
Sharon Swain, Sandton City centre manager, says the extension will bring with it around 70 new stores to Sandton City and other value-add customer services will include customer services desks, secure gift voucher kiosks, mother and child parking, customer friendly signage, and a host of other amenities including the addition of over 1 000 parking bays – which is already in progress.
The Woolworths Court is undergoing its facelift, which is set for completion before the festive season. The Fountain Court and Mugg & Bean Court will begin with their refurbishments in early 2011.
The recent refurbishment of Southern Sun’s Sandton Sun hotel lobby included improved dining areas and a rooftop restaurant with spectacular views of the city.
Although visually impressive, the internal refurbishment serves more than just an aesthetic function, says Hillary.
“The internal refurbishment also includes a reconfiguration of certain elements, aimed at improving customer flow and movement by connecting the entire mall, which means completing the loop between Woolworths at one end and Edgars at the other, on both shopping levels in the centre.
“Connections between upper and lower levels will be more streamlined, access and vehicle flow will be improved and the complex will be further integrated, through easier access, with the Sandton Convention Centre, Nelson Mandela Square and the broader Sandton precinct.”
A strong focus on security has also been identified as a goal of the refurbishment, with an all round improvement in security throughout the complex being achieved with the installation of state of the art surveillance equipment.
Various processes and construction methods have been put in place – including work being done at night – to ensure that the current changes have had a minimal effect on shopper convenience. With safety being taken into account, the Sandton Joint Venture, consisting of Grinaker LTA and WBHO, were recently awarded the regional safety award from the Master Builders Association for work completed to date on the Sandton City redevelopment.