Construction of the R950-million Springs Mall at the Blue Crane Eco Park development, in Gauteng, is well under way, with the 48 000 m2 regional shopping centre on schedule and within budget to open in March 2017, says main contractor Giuricich Bros Group.

The mall is a joint venture between Giuricich Bros Group, developer Blue Crane Eco Mall, shopping centre developer and leasing specialist Flanagan & Gerard Property Development & Investment, and JSE-listed retail-focused real estate investment trust Vukile Property Fund.

Located in the Casseldale suburb, at the intersection of the N17 highway and the R51/Wit road, the mall is easily accessible, with further access from the N17 and Jan Smuts road.

Springs Mall, which will comprise more than 120 stores, is 95% let, while 75% of the subcontracts have been let. Anchor tenants include retail majors Pick n Pay, Checkers, Woolworths and Edgars. Other tenants include retailers Foschini Group, Truworths, Mr Price, Clicks, Dis-Chem and Incredible Connection.

While the mall forms the anchor of the broader Blue Crane Eco Park development, further commercial and retail development is expected on the surrounding 10 ha.

Flanagan & Gerard MD Paul Gerard reiterates the economic importance of the mall, stressing the benefits of local job creation.

“It will bring about 1 500 new jobs for local residents and will also provide a platform for entrepreneurial businesses to establish themselves in a new mall with excellent visibility and accessibility,” he says, listing the opportunities available to different sectors, such as food and postal services, health and beauty, optometry, fashion, homeware, gifting and electronics services.

Gerard further tells Engineering News that, while the current economic climate has led to retailers being far more selective in new centres, Flanagan & Gerard has developed shopping centres that provide a service, as well as retail facilities where such facilities are poor or nonexistent.

“We ensure that all the macrofundamentals – location, accessibility, visibility, growth within the trade area, and tenant and bank support – are in place,” he stresses.

Key features of the mall, a two-level centre with vertical transportation in three regularly spaced areas, include designs with natural light.

Giuricich Bros chartered accountant Adrian Faccio adds that the construction method was fairly traditional, but with a distinct focus on building to a tight programme, resulting in a fast-tracked, load-bearing concrete structure with traditional brickwork and plaster.

He adds that building a regional shopping centre is by nature a prestigious project. “It showcases . . . the abilities of Giuricich as a construction company and bares testimony to the flexibility of the company to take on challenging projects,” he says.

Giuiricich Bros director Nicky Giuricich also believes that the company’s involvement as the main contractor in the construction of Springs Mall stands “in good stead for the future by increasing its expertise in larger-scale retail developments”.

The new development is further expected to strengthen the company’s portfolio in the retail development sector, which has increased with Giuricich securing the building contracts for Springs Mall and the expansion of the well- established Vaal Mall in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng. The value of these projects exceed R1.4-billion.

Meanwhile, the company has been involved in several construction projects in South Africa, such as the redevelopment of the Oyster Box Hotel, in Umhlanga Rocks, Durban and constructing more than 75 McDonalds restaurants since 1994.