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French company Unibail-Rodamco will invest 265 million euros in the construction of a 97,000 sqm shopping mall South of Valencia that will include 200 stores, dining and entertainment business, and will bring 3,500 new jobs to the area.
The project “Oceanic”, designed by architect Ricardo Bofill, was presented to the Mayor of Valencia, Rita Barberá. Both the Mayor and Unibail-Rodamco directors declared that the project was fantastic news for the city and it proved that Valencia “has again been chosen by the largest international investment companies”, and have ventured that the mall will become a “new architectural landmark”.
According to Spain General Manager Unibail-Rodamco, Simon Orchard, “Oceanic”, will be built on a 77,800 sqm site included in the partial plan “Fuente San Luis”, next to the intersection of the V-31 and the V-30 highways at the city South entrance. Construction should start in 2013 and be completed during the second semester of 2015.
The privileged location of the site will contribute to enhance the building’s visibility and provide easy access both for the citizens of Valencia and the visitors arriving by public or private transport.
The design by Bofill, intends to become the city’s new architectural landmark; 97,000 sqm distributed over three floors with 200 international brand stores and 4,500 free parking lots.
Orchard announced that the company will invest 265 millions de euros. Apart from the indirect investment by future operating companies additional 60 millions euros will be spent in access and infrastructures included in the urbanization project approved by the Municipality.
According to Unibail-Rodamco the investment will create around 2,500 direct new jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs during construction works. The company has 77 shopping malls worldwide, 15 in Spain.
Simon Orchard announced that “Oceanic” will include a special feature that will attract “around 12 million visitors per year”.
The Mayor has applauded this initiative that should contribute to the dynamization of the city’s economy in this crisis situation, and will create new jobs and generate additional revenue for Valencia, a “city that doesn’t stop and continues on the right track”.
She has defined the project as “serious, professional and innovating” with the beauty of Ricardo Bofill’s architecture as an important added value”.
The architect has stressed the “functionality and personality” of this new mall, a retail complex “with low long volumetry” where the Mediterranean light and the local orange trees, as the Mayor expected, will be play the leading role.
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