Refurbishment, extension for Kwagga Mall

Located in Kwaggafontein, Mpumalanga, Kwagga Plaza is being refurbished by MDS Architecture for McCormick Property Development and it will be named Kwagga Mall. The existing open-air plaza is being converted into an enclosed mall, thus extending the gross leasable area of the 25-year-old building to 34,000m².

The first phase is complete - an extension of Shoprite – while phase two (a new Pick n Pay) is due to open in December 2017.

Complete facelift

Louis Pretorius, MDS Architecture’s partner and lead on the project, says that by the end of 2017, about half of the building will be enclosed, all shopfronts will be replaced and the building will feature new external cladding. Kwagga Plaza will get a complete facelift. Old face brick facades will feature steel cladding and continuous shopfronts, creating a thoroughly modern feel. Three new entrances will be built, as will water tanks and a new sewerage plant.

The taxi rank is being repositioned and food outlets are being concentrated in a food court. Additional parking has been created as a result of breaking down a number of blocks. “Over the years, a number of extra blocks were added to the plaza at various levels. Added to this, the site has a large fall, which turned out to be quite a design challenge,” said Pretorius.