In a nod to Australia’s competitiveness in the retail real estate market, Stage 40 of the Chadstone – The Fashion Capital development has been honoured with a prestigious International Council of Shopping Centres VIVA (Vision, Innovation, Value, Achievement) award for design and development excellence.
The award – considered the best of the best – was presented at the ICSC RECon event at the Las Vegas Convention Centre in Nevada last week to the applause of the world’s leading retail real estate professionals.
With 213,000m2 of commercial retail space, the iconic Chadstone Shopping Centre – located in Melbourne’s Malvern East and affectionately known as “Chaddy” by patrons – is the biggest of its kind in the southern hemisphere and is the heart of the local community. Four levels boast more than 600 retailers and are serviced by 10,000 car parks.
Chadstone’s identifiable design is a highlight of the centre
The latest $660 million expansion, completed in 2017, included an expanded luxury precinct and showcases a glass gridshell roof, which was meticulously designed and installed to house a premium dining precinct, Australia’s first Legoland Discovery Centre and the flagship Hoyts cinemas complex.
The unique 7,000 square metre gridshell roof features 2,700 individual glass panels creating a distinctive light-filled shopping and dining experience. The gridshell roof has also become one of Chadstone’s iconic design attractions and a popular place to take a “selfie” underneath.
Carolyn Viney, Chief Development Officer, Vicinity Centres said: “We’re thrilled to see the recent redevelopment of Chadstone recognised as a global leader, winning the prestigious top award presented by the ICSC, and we’re extremely proud to continue working to further evolve Chadstone – The Fashion Capital.
The gridshell roof has also become one of Chadstone’s iconic design attractions
“The ICSC VIVA award is a testament to John Gandel, the visionary and leader who has taken Chadstone on an incredible journey to one of the world’s top shopping, dining, entertainment and lifestyle destinations. The Gandel Group has been a wonderful partner for Vicinity through various milestones including $2 billion in annual sales – which ranks Chadstone as the number four shopping centre in the world, by sales,” Viney said.
Mr John Gandel said: “I’m personally delighted that Chadstone has been internationally recognised. This development was significant in the history of the centre, it’s cemented Chadstone’s place on the world stage and it is a wonderful achievement to be one of only a few Australian enterprises ever to win a global ICSC award.”
Globally renowned architecture firms Buchan and CallisonRTKL – who have collaborated on design for Chadstone Shopping Centre across several decades and many stages of development – joined forces again for Stage 40 to deliver the complete lifestyle and entertainment destination.
Buchan Melbourne Managing Principal Andrew Mackenzie said the project team strove to meet Vicinity Centres’ vision of creating a world-class destination that provided an authentic, welcoming and premium shopping experience.
“Chadstone is already a top player on the global scene so we wanted to further enhance its reputation by creating a whole range of precincts and ‘places’ within the centre,” Mackenzie said.
Stage 40 has already been a commercial success, with an average of 70,000 customers visiting the centre each day, sending sales figures soaring by 27%.
A 5-star Green Star rating also confirms the centre’s long-term commitment to sustainability, with air conditioning efficiencies, smart bus technology and rainwater collection and recycling among many environmentally-friendly features.
Vicinity Centre’s Regional Development Manager Josef Seidler said while Chadstone’s Stage 40 development had taken inspiration from leading, international retail precincts, Buchan and CallistonRTKL had tailored the local project to ensure it met the changing needs and expectations of Chadstone’s diverse and unique customers.
“We know our customers are always looking to Chadstone for the latest brands and experiences which is why Stage 40 has been such a success. Buchan and CallistonRTKL have worked together over many decades to develop and refine the masterplan for Chadstone which is now enjoyed by more than two million visitors a month. We’re excited to be creating one of the world’s best integrated lifestyle destinations and that evolution continues at Chadstone – The Fashion Capital”, Seidler said.
The evolution of Chadstone continues with the opening of Hotel Chadstone Melbourne, MGallery by Sofitel, a 250-room, premium hotel in the heart of Melbourne’s south-east in November 2019.
The Link between Chadstone Hotel Melbourne and Chadstone – The Fashion Capital
Viney added: “Hotel Chadstone is our next mixed-use development which will include The Link between the hotel, shopping centre and our existing commercial office tower. We’re creating a truly integrated, luxurious lifestyle destination for our customers, including the more than 450,000 international visitors who come to Chadstone every year, with that number continue to grow.”
At SCN’s Big Guns event earlier this year, Chadstone was acknowledged as the first Australian centre to reach $2 billion in sales. Chadstone is owned by the Gandel Group and Vicinity Centres.
