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Philippine conglomerate SM Investments
Corporation (SMIC), has embarked on a multi-billion peso development
project for the construction of a 60-hectare mixed-use complex
envisioned to become a premier business and tourism destination in
the Philippines.
Dubbed the “Mall of Asia Complex”, the
project is located along the coast of Manila Bay and will consist of
technologically-advanced infrastructure integrated with office,
retail, institutional, residential, and leisure components. The
complex is now home to the Philippines’ largest shopping mall, the
SM Mall of Asia, and will soon boast of the latest business and IT
hub, the country’s largest convention center, a 16,000-seat sports
and entertainment arena, and a wide range of facilities with
recreational, tourism, and residential uses.
“We envision the Mall of Asia Complex to be a
prime business and tourism district in the country and in the
region,” says SM Investments Corporation executive vice-president
for real property Josefino Lucas. “With its unique location by the
side of the famous Manila Bay, the Mall of Asia Complex which
features an excellent mix of business and leisure elements is
expected to boost Philippine tourism as well as redefine Manila’s
place among the new and exciting urban centers of Asia.”
The Mall of Asia Complex’s proximity to the
international airport, seaports, hotels, and other commercial
districts make it ideal for business, will give rise to world-class
business facilities such as the OneE-Com Center which is targeted
for completion by year-end.
The OneE-Com Center is a 10-storey building
designed for e-commerce, contact centers, BPO companies, and
specialized office uses. It will provide leading edge
facilities such as multi-telco redundancy and connectivity, 100
percent backup power supply, basketball and badminton courts at deck
level and central courtyard amenities, to meet the growing needs of
technology-based companies with 24/7 operations.
Recently, SMIC formalized a deal with the
leading global fitness company Fitness First Philippines, Inc to
house the club’s 16th branch in the country on the ground and
second levels of OneE-Com Center. Set to open by last quarter of
this year, the fitness center will cater to the health and fitness
needs of people specially those who work 24/7 in the call centers.
Also set to rise within the Mall of Asia Complex
is the SMX Convention Center, which is envisioned to be the
country’s premier destination for both local and international
trade and cultural events. The three-storey, 46,647-square meter
building will feature open exhibition areas, multifunctional
halls, and flexible meeting rooms with modern exposition amenities
for major conferences and trade exhibits.
Another major development project is the SM
Arena, a sprawling indoor facility for big-time sports and
entertainment events that can seat over 16,000 spectators. This
expansive arena is expected to be the venue of choice of major gigs
of well-known international artists in the music and entertainment
industries.
In addition, the Mall of Asia Complex is set to
inaugurate the SM Mall of Asia Science and Discovery Center on
October 10, 2007—the first of its kind themed-park devoted solely
to science and technology. A partnership between SM Prime Holdings
and the US-based Leisure Entertainment Consultancy, the center will
feature a digital planetarium and a wide range of technology and
science-themed presentations and exhibits.
Likewise in the pipeline are the construction of
the SM Ferry, which will feature a modern ferry terminal to service
guests and tourists who wish to travel to Cavite city and Bataan, or
to SMIC’s eco-tourism development estate, the Hamilo Coast in
Nasugbu, Batangas; the SM Land Showroom which will showcase the
resort and residential features of the Hamilo estate; and a leisure
strip area which is set to soft-open this October, where people can
converge and unwind after a hard day’s work and look forward to
fresh and hip themed-happenings every month with their choice drinks
and spirits. The Mall of Asia Complex will also give rise to real
property investments such as deluxe hotels, upscale offices and
full-serviced apartments.
SMIC just recently forged a memorandum of
agreement with the Microtel Inns and Suites hotel group to put up a
150-hotel room strategically located near the SMX Convention Center
and the SM Mall of Asia. Also in the pipeline is the rise of the
Radisson Hotel in October 2009 near the OneE-Com Center.
These world-class and high-tech infrastructures
and facilities perfectly complement the initial major attraction of
the complex—the SM Mall of Asia. Dubbed as the Philippines’
largest mall and among the world’s biggest in terms of gross floor
size, the SM Mall of Asia is home to flagship stores of premier
establishments which features over 700 shops and dining
establishments and offers the country’s first IMAX theater and the
first Olympic-sized ice skating rink.
Besides the mall, the Shrine of Jesus, The Way,
The Truth and The Life Church and the SM Corporate offices are
already in place at the sprawling complex. The SM Corporate offices
consist of six one-storey structures which house the corporate
offices of the SM Group and Teletech, a major international call
center.
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