Name and Location
East Rand Galleria reconfiguration and renovation project, Gauteng, South Africa.

Client
SA Corporate Real Estate Fund.

Project Description
The 45 000 m² East Rand Galleria, in Boksburg, which connects to the East Rand Mall, is undergoing a major reconfiguration. The reconfiguration necessitates the use of about 4 350 m₃ of concrete and 420 t of steel for construction. The centre will also adopt a new name – East Point – to better reflect its refreshed, aspirational market positioning.

The project will strip out the entire mall and replace it with everything contemporary and new, achieving a complete modernisation of the centre. The centre’s entire facade will change, receiving a new roof and striking new entrances. Inside, mezzanine levels will be removed so that East Point can offer the latest in retail store designs with shopfronts of 4 m.

East Point’s links with surrounding retail outlets and facilities are a focus of this project and, as a result, its 2 000 m² Toys R Us outlet will be upgraded and its entrance point moved from the parking area and located inside the mall.

The 11 000 m² Game store, which currently operates as a standalone big box, will also be located inside the mall.

East Point will also feature a new 2 000 m² family orientated food court and fun zone. Besides restaurants like John Dory’s, Pizza Pasta and Fego, it will also include fast-service restaurants and a children’s play area.

Embracing the latest trends in fitness, the centre will also introduce a 1 300 m² gym.

Pick n Pay is applying cutting-edge technology for logistics and operations to reduce its 21 000 m² store to a substantially more efficient and completely revamped 13 500 m² store. Its increased efficiencies will create space for an array of new retailers. Some of the centre’s most popular stores will stay on too, but in new locations.

There will also be a full upgrade to the centre’s parking area to improve access and egress. The centre’s parking area includes its KFC Drive-Thru, which will be entirely revamped, and a Burger King outlet will open in November 2014.

Like Pick n Pay, the mall itself will become more efficient and environmentally friendly. The refurbishment will introduce major energy efficiency to its plant and equipment. The chilled-water air-conditioning system will be controlled with a building management system, and motion sensor lighting will be placed in service areas. The entire roof and all the insulation are being replaced and the latest standards will be incorporated to improve energy efficiency and gain environmental benefits.

In line with the latest generation of malls across the world, East Point will feature touch-screen directories and benefit from a fibre-optic backbone. This will create a permanent Wi-Fi facility for retailers to plug into for high-speed data transfer and for shoppers to go online.

Value
R411-million.

Duration
The project is expected to take 18 months to complete.

The mall and Pick n Pay will trade throughout the changes. Pick n Pay’s revamp will take place in 11 phases to minimise disruption for shoppers. The centre’s reconfiguration and refurbishment project is also a phased project, with the first phase set to open in early 2015, which will include the newly configured mall area adjacent to Pick n Pay and the new Dis-Chem. The second phase is planned for late 2015, with a link to Game, and the third phase for early 2016, when the last reconfigured line shops and refurbished mall areas will be completed.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
SA Corporate Real Estate Fund, tel +27 21 529 8410, fax +27 21 530 0838 or email info@sacorporatefund.co.za.