Upgrade for Berea shopping centre in Durban

"This will be a flagship shopping centre for the greater Berea catchment area, positioning it with other premier shopping centres in the region," says Frank Reardon, project co-ordinator for the owners, Terrafirmanet Investments. He adds that Investec Private Bank has provided development finance for the project.

"This significant refurbishment will upgrade the centre and reposition it into a modern, appealing shopping mall, which will better serve the demographics of the area. Both patrons and tenants of Overport City will benefit from the refurbishment, as visiting and working in the centre will be enhanced," says Ivan Pachonick, director retail consulting for JHI Properties.

"The interior and exterior upgrade will include upmarket finishes, a shopping centre and exterior façade upgrade, new food court, an office upgrade including replacement of exterior windows and parking lot upgrade, while the retail component will be anchored by a much larger 4000 sqm Checkers store, upgraded from Shoprite to a blue line Checkers store. Other major tenants include new tenancies for four national banks and other significant new tenancies are currently under negotiation."

The centre will take its new name from the emphasis on contemporary architecture with high volume ceilings, the use of natural light and cascading landscaping with hanging gardens, vertical wall gardens, fully-grown trees, and tranquil pond and water features with koi fish. Combined with strategic lighting the designers will create a restful, green conservatory ambience.

Logistical access will be improved with new signage, covered parking bays on the two retail levels above street level, which will be connected to the centre via a pedestrian retail bridge, while the new interior will be a 'vertical mall' where entry on any level provides full access to all shops. New escalators will link the three retail levels and two new fully glazed panoramic lifts link all parking to the retail section, while a new flying staircase will link the roof parking level to the central space.

The new food court component will feature restaurants with decks fronting onto the street and in the mall, while national fast food outlets and coffee shops will overlook The Atrium. Currently tenants are being selected to provide the best in convenience neighbourhood retail.

Of note is the new, larger Checkers store, which will include a deli section, wine store and bakery, with banking, post office services and a well-stocked Clicks store included in the convenience mix of tenants. New toilet interiors, management offices, security systems and a strong emphasis on natural stone finishes and lighting completes the transformation of the centre into a first class convenient shopping centre.

Professional Team

• Consulting architects - Rob Bray Consulting
  
• Architects - Charles Taylor Architects
  
• Quantity Surveyors - Davis Langdon
  
• Structural Engineer - Becker Associates
  
• Leasing - JHI Properties Retail Leasing