SPECIAL REPORT RANDRIDGE MALL
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RANDRIDGE MALL: FACE LIFT FOR COMMUNITY SHOPPING CENTRE By Stacey Rowan
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Randridge Mall has been servicing the community for the last 27 years. Built in 1983 the center quickly became popular with the public as it fulfilled the a-z in shopping needs of the community by providing the perfect tenant mix, easy access and also loads of parking. As the neighborhood expanded, the amount of shoppers and their needs grew exponentially. It was therefore essential that Randridge Mall undergo an expansion and a facelift.
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Emira property fund, owners of Randridge Mall,
“With the regards to the construction of the new
situated on the corner of John Vorster and Kay-
extension, we used standard concrete, brick and
burne Avenue – Randpark Ridge, invested R126 mil-
mortar. We used a steel frame structure with brick
lion in this refurbishment project and with the help
and pre-cast panels, together with concrete col-
of Frans Farmer (architects) and Eris Property Man-
umns. On the exterior walls we used smooth and
agement the project was completed in September
scratch plaster, paired with a low sheen exterior
this year. “The client’s brief encompassed taking
paint.,” says Farmer.
the old tired centre and renewing it to bring it up to the standards of today’s trends and norms of shop-
The exterior shop fronts were heightened to allow
ping centres,” says Frans Farmer, principle architect
for increased light flow into the shops and for larg-
on the project, Frans Farmer Architects.
er display areas, and an 8.5 penetration proof glass was put in place for the exterior shop fronts. Apart
Jannie Smith with Frans Joubert and his team from
from making the stores more secure in terms of the
C-Pro arrived on site on in August 2009 and started
penetration proof glass, the shop fronts were also
breaking down walls, chipping out tiles and digging
aligned. On the main entrances, a strong use of
up the parking lot.
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glass was used to act as receptors of light, increas-
around the mall, introducing CCTV cameras for se-
ing the amount of illumination into the centre.
curity and building after-hours lockable via roller stutters on all the entrances, increasing security
When describing the main front entrances, Farmers
measures. All the lighting we changed to energy
continues: “… the entrance has a specific design
savers and installed sensors and timers which now
and style – a modern, vernacular style. It is modern
control all the lights in the parking areas.”
because of its straight lines, square blocks and strong use of glass and it is vernacular because the
Not forgetting the complete new look for the inte-
new style adjoins to the contemporary style of the
rior of the centre, the architects took to the task of
old building. We also built an additional mall en-
updating the appearance of the mall, and now
trance in front of Dischem.”
shoppers, once inside the new Randridge Mall, are greeted by renewed aesthetics for a revived shop-
Considering other aspects of the facelift, and ex-
ping experience.
tension, Farmer says: “The face lift entailed introducing a parking deck with paid parking, complet-
“The revival of the layout of the mall involved clean-
ing the fencing (which was incomplete at first)
ing out and redesigning the old part of the mall, together with designing the new extension from scratch. The heavy use of straight clear lines used for the design creates a flow, a continuation, throughout the mall. The interior now features high shine finishes, polished porcelain tiles and stainless
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steel trims, creating a contemporary and stylish
New Stores include: Pizza Perfect, Burger Perfect,
feel within the mall. This is also complimented by
Sharugh Persian Carpets, Absa Atm, Nedbank Atm,
the neutral and soft colour palette that was used
3@1 Postal Services, Spoil Yourself (Soap shop), SA
on the interior walls. Stainless steel plant holders
Post Office, Sheet Street, Foschini, Markham, @
and dustbins were used to give the mall character
Home, Crystal Direct, American Swiss, Total Sports,
and bright directional signage has been placed
Donna Claire, Rage Shoes, Kingsmead Shoes, N.
throughout the mall to help shoppers move and
Haque Curtaining and Fabrics, Kidz (Kiddies cloth-
navigate easily through it,” explains Farmer.
ing store), Khoki (Stationery), The Pool & Hardware Team , Petit Fours, Bright Rock, Beas Beautiful and
The revival also includes a number of Randridge
Lotus Home Collection. “By adding new shops, it
Mall’s current stores moving to different locations;
creates capital and therefore makes this project, as
many new stores and expansions of some of our
a whole, viable,” says Farmer.
Nationals tenants within the centre.
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Stores that have expanded include: Dischem, Woolworths, Truworths, FNB and Mr Price. Stores that have relocated within the mall include: Pep Store moved to Entrance 4; Cleaning Brother moved to Entrance 4; Family Pets, moved to Pick ‘n Pay entrance; Fine art and Frames moved to Pick ‘n Pay entrance; Crazy Store moved to Entrance 3; Exclusive Ties moved to Entrance 3; Mr Price moved to the old CNA; Hearing Centre moving opposite Dischem and Standard Bank ATM’s moved opposite Dischem. CNA and Jet moved out of the mall. With the introduction of new stores, Randridge mall now
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offers a more diverse selection of stores, catering
With all the changes that Randridge Mall has under-
for a broader range of shopping and services re-
gone, it still remains the local’s all-on-one family
quirements.
community centre, but now with more stores to choose from and an even easier and more conveni-
Every development is bound to have its challenges
ent shopping destination. Melissa Bower, Market-
and Randridge Mall was no exception to this, al-
ing Manager of the Centre, states that this recipe is
though the minor challenges were overcome suc-
“flop proof”. “Randridge Mall is one of the many
cessfully. “As the construction continued whilst the
refurbishments that we have done that came out
mall remained ‘live’, this was challenging. Another
the best,” concludes Farmer. <
challenge with this project was the fact that we lost parking space by building the extension in the front of the mall. The solution to this involved building the parking on top of the centre which now accounts for roof top parking.”
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