(Adds details on the project, artist's impression)
Construction of the €35 million The Point retail mall at Tigné is proceeding on time and the mall is on track to open at the end of summer next year, the developers said.
The Point will be Malta’s largest shopping centre, with 17,000m2 of leisure and retail under one roof in a purpose-built state-of-the-art facility. It already has a high profile signing with Debenhams taking 2,800m2 of floor space. They will incorporate many of their best brands including Jeff Banks, Maine, Jasper Conran and St George by Duffer. Debenhams has commenced design of the interior of the department store in the UK.
Company officials said the leasing process is now underway, headed up by UK based commercial property specialists Colliers.
Colliers are now based in the Tigné Point Marketing suite. The leasing team is conducting talks with major retailers with the aim of signing the next wave of “mini anchor” tenants. They are focussing on attracting an international mix of retail, some of the brands not seen before in Malta.
The Point forms part of the Tigne Point development, the largest mixed-use development in Malta, including the mall, apartments and leisure amenities emanating from and around Pjazza Tigné, the location of The Point.
Ergon Projects Ltd began construction last summer. One side of the site has now reached the top level of concrete and in February Motherwell Bridge started the erection of the steelwork frame for the top two levels of shops which will also include the Sliema Wanderers football pitch on the roof.
The rest of the concrete levels and all structural steel framing/floors will be completed by the end of this year. Works will then start on the external walls above ground level to the whole shopping centre. This will include the reconstruction, on two sides, of stone facades using the original materials from the old Sergeants Mess building that used to occupy the site.
All the major mechanical and electrical plant has already been delivered to the site and the air conditioning installations and electrical works have started in the lower two levels of the building. All scenic lifts and escalators for the atrium and goods lifts for the shops are on order and will be delivered to site at the beginning of September 2008.