Press Release - November 16th 2006
RioSul Shopping and Mediterranean Cosmos compete in different categories
Sonae Sierra's shopping centres are finalists of the ICSC Awards 2007
Two of Sonae Sierra's shopping and leisure centres, RioSul Shopping in Seixal, and Mediterranean Cosmos in Thessalonica, Greece, have just been nominated for the 2007 European Shopping Centre Awards, by the International Council of Shopping Centre Awards (ICSC) to be held in Warsaw, in April 2007.
RioSul Shopping and Mediterranean Cosmos centres will be competing in the "Refurbishment/Expansion" and "New Large Dimensions Centres" categories, respectively. The nomination of these two developments is, for Sonae Sierra, the acknowledgment of the company's capacity to innovate and to implement new Shopping and Leisure Centre concepts in every market where it operates.
Inaugurated last March, the RioSul Shopping is owned in equal shares by Sonae Sierra and Pan European. It offers 140 shops, including a hypermarket and 22 restaurants, in 39.700 m2 of Gross Lettable Area (GLA). It also makes available 2300 free parking spaces. Located in a densely populated area, the RioSul Shopping serves a population of 1,1 million people in a 30 minute catchment area.
Developed and held by Sonae Sierra/Acropole Charagionis (39,9%) and LAMDA Development (60,1%), the Mediterranean Cosmos is set in a 250.000 m2 area, and offers 46.000 m2 of GLA and 2.600 parking spaces. A total of 210 shops host the most prestigious brands since October 2005, when it was inaugurated. The architectural design of the Mediterranean Cosmos was inspired by the Mediterranean ambience and it integrated the centre in the surrounding Thessalonica community through the use of colours, materials and the emphasis put on natural lighting. From the centre, visitors can also appreciate the magnificent view of the Mediterranean Sea and Mount Olympus. The centre also integrates a "traditional Greek neighbourhood", including a church, a museum, traditional restaurants and an open-air theatre with 400 seats for music and dance shows.
The ICSC Awards are the most prestigious in the shopping and leisure centre sector, and every year they reward the finest developments in Europe. The jury is comprised of some of the most prominent personalities tied to this area.
A Sonae Sierra, www.sonaesierra.com, is an international shopping centre specialist, with a passion for bringing innovation and excitement to the shopping and leisure centre industry. The Company owns or co-owns 40 Shopping Centres in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and Brazil, with a total Gross Lettable Area (GLA) of more than 1,6 million m2. Currently, Sonae Sierra is developing 15 more projects in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece and Brazil, with a total GLA of more than 520.000 m2. In 2005 its centres have welcomed more than 400 million visits.