The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) announced finalists of the European Shopping Center Awards 2013. Silesia City Center (SCC), celebrating today its 7th anniversary, has been nominated for best refurbishment and/or expansion.
SCC is the only Polish finalist of the competition. In the same category, Silesia City Center is competing against Altmarkt-Galerie in Dresden, Germany. Winners are to be announced in April 2013 at the European Shopping Center Awards Ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden. The ICSC’s European Shopping Center Awards are the supreme awards in European retail property, granted for established, new and refurbished or extended projects. From a shortlist of the finalists, outstanding schemes are selected as award winners. Commendations may also be given to selected finalists.
Since its opening on 17th of November 2005, the mall has been offering a retail space for 250 shops on 66 000 sq. meters. Strong interest from national and international retailers persuaded Immofinanz Group to extend Silesia City Center. From September 2010 to October 2011, a total of 20 000 sq. meters of new rental space was created, adding more than 60 shops and 500 parking spaces. Today, the total gross leasable area of 89 226 sq. meters and the mix of 337 shops make Silesia City Center the biggest shopping mall in the Upper Silesia region and the fifth biggest in the country. Amongst major tenants are such brands as Saturn, Cinema City, Van Graaf, Smyk, Tesco, Pure Health and Fitness, C&A, H&M and Zara.
The shopping complex has been developed on a former mining site. The mining past is preserved through the historical buildings and the mining tower – the landmark of Silesia City Center.