Westfield Albany

infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = Westfield Albany

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image_width = 250
caption =
location = Albany, New Zealand
opening_date = 2007
owner= Westfield Group
manager=
developer= Westfield Group
number_of_stores = ~ 150
number_of_anchors = 4 (including cinemas)
floor_area = 49,000 sqm (retail) / 21,000 sqm (office)
parking = ~2000+ spaces
floors= 2
website = [http://www.westfield.com/albany/ westfield.com/albany]
footnotes =

Westfield Albany is a new shopping centre of the Westfield Group in Albany, New Zealand. Once the last sections opened in April 2008, at 7 ha (70,000 m²) of indoor space (4.9 ha retail [49,000 m²] and 2.1 ha [21,000 m²] offices), it became the largest shopping centre in New Zealand, eclipsing even recently opened Sylvia Park, and costing around NZ$ 210 million to construct." [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10457764 Westfield set to show off NZ's biggest mall] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Wednesday 15 August 2007]

It provides over 2,000 carparks for around 150 specialty stores, as well as a large-format 2 floor 10,000 m² Farmers, a Kmart and a New World major, and also contains a SkyCity multiplex cinema and a 560 seat food court which includes major fastfood franchises. [http://westfield.com/corporate/newsroom/announcements/2006/2006929_81813.html Westfield Agreements Mark Milestone In Development of Albany Town Centre] (from the Westfield NZ website, 28 September 2006)] [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=28&objectid=10432987 Options for Downtown mall wide open] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Saturday 07 April 2007]

The centre has been estimated to have provided over 1,000 jobs during construction, and over 1,500 once in operation.

History and Development

The centre is Westfield's first totally new mall since entering the New Zealand market in the mid-90s." [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=318&objectid=10459307 Countdown under way for Albany supermall rollout] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Thursday 23 August 2007] When first mooted in 2003, it was conceived as a much smaller centre, with only 20,000 sqm planned for initially, and a comparatively small later expansion of 15,000 sqm mooted for a decade later. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=3532503 Westfield studies top sites] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Wednesday 05 November 2003] Westfield is already planning a large further expansion of the centre. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=318&objectid=10440567&ref=emailfriend Justin Lynch - Low-flying master of the mall game] " - "New Zealand Herald", Saturday 19 May 2007] Some experts see demand for about twice the size of the current centre in retail and associated office space in the wider Albany area. However, Westfield itself has in the past put in submissions against a District Plan plan change in the area, contending that it allowed for "excessive retail provision in the Albany area" (in a northern 'mainstreet' area separate from the core where Westfield and a number of other retailers have their sites). The challenge was rejected by the Environment Court. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/location/story.cfm?l_id=380&objectid=10445286 Council wins battle over Albany] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Wednesday 13 June 2007]

The concept of the Albany mall is considered a (somewhat reluctant) new approach by Westfield, which has previously been accused of disregarding the outside effects of its malls, and of maximising commercial opportunities at the cost of the surrounding communities. Spurred by criticism as well as Council plans to develop a 'town centre' instead of simply providing retail areas, Westfield changed its standard greenfields-type plans for the new site, and developed a more open centre with 'main street' elements and some public areas." [http://www.bdcentral.co.nz/afa.asp?idWebPage=8338&idBobDeyProperty_Articles=4891&SID=656421828 Significant change in Westfield thinking] " - "The Bob Dey Property Report", Monday 18 July 2005. Retrieved 2007-09-20.]

Westfield Albany Stage I opened 30 August 2007, with 65 shops trading. The rest of the shops opened on 01 November 2007 after a main opening ceremony attended by Prime Minister Helen Clark and Westfield Group Managing Director Steven Lowy, [ [http://www.westfield.com/corporate/newsroom/announcements/2007/20071101_51982.html Westfield Opens NZ$210 Million Westfield Albany] (from a Westfield Group press release, 2007-11-01. Accessed 2008-03-29.)] while the 10-screen cinemas' opening was delayed to April 2008." [http://www.bdcentral.co.nz/afa.asp?idWebPage=8338&idBobDeyProperty_Articles=9011&SID=904967055 Westfield opens Albany centre] " - "The Bob Dey Property Report", Thursday 31 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-20.]

In July 2008, the cinemas of the centre were closed preventively by Skycity cinemas due to weathertightness reasons. Problems with the roof had already caused a single cinema to be shut a month earlier. [cite news
title = Engineers called in after leaks shut giant cinema
url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10520971
publisher = The New Zealand Herald
date = 2008-07-11
accessdate = 2008-08-12
language = English ] The cinemas were reopened about a week later. [cite news
title = $10 tickets on offer after safety all-clear at cinema
url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10521577
publisher = The New Zealand Herald
date = 2008-07-15
accessdate = 2008-08-12
language = English ]

Awards

In 2008, the centre received the highest award of the New Zealand Property Council, with the judges calling the centre being one of "a new generation of its type" and having a good mix of leisure and entertainment with an emphasis on public spaces, which had been "designed to provide a focal point for the whole Albany community and beyond". [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/8/story.cfm?c_id=8&objectid=10519424&ref=rss Westfield Albany takes top award] (The New Zealand Herald. Wednesday July 02, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-05.)]

References

External links

* [http://www.westfield.com/albany/ Westfield Albany] (official shopping centre website)
* [http://www.albanycity.co.nz/masterplan.htm Design & Masterplan] (Albany City Holdings Ltd. - includes 3D image with Westfield Albany at the centre of rendering)