SM Seaside City puts Cebu in retail world map

PUTTING Cebu in the retail world map, SM Seaside City Cebu opened yesterday giving Cebuanos the first look at the state-of-the-art, environmentally-sustainable urban center on the waterfront of the new South Road Properties (SRP) development in this city. Being a major tourism hub, SM Prime Holdings chose Cebu and invested five years of property development in the Philippines’ second largest city.

Located on a 93,570-square-meter site, the 470,490-sqm mall is SM Prime Holdings’ 55th mall and the third in the Queen City of the South, after SM City Cebu and SM City Consolacion.

SM Seaside City Cebu is one of the first developments in the masterplan of SM Prime Holdings for their 30-hectare space at the SRP, a prime-property development project on reclaimed land located a few meters from Cebu’s central business district.

Designed by Arquitectonica, an international architecture, interior design and planning firm from Miami, Florida, this grand first-of-its-kind urban development at the SRP will be a landmark in the region, transforming the way people live, work and play in this community. When completed, the complex will include residential towers, hotels, a convention and exhibition center, a school, and a hospital.

Compared to Mall of Asia

The development has been compared to that of the SM Mall of Asia, which has been envisioned to be the destination mall in the Asia-Pacific region.  Both are located beside the waterfront: SM Seaside City Cebu has a spectacular view of the Cebu Channel, just as the SM Mall of Asia has Manila Bay and its glorious sunset as a picturesque backdrop.

Similarly, the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod was the first structure to open at SM Seaside, just as the Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life paved the way for development of the SM Mall of Asia complex.

Just as the SM Mall of Asia has the Globe as its iconic landmark, SM Seaside City Cebu has the Cube, a  21×21-meter  steel sculptural piece that is a symbol of strength and stability. It is a tribute to the resilience of the Cebuanos in particular and the Filipino people in general.

Nautilus-inspired design

With its nautilus-inspired design of expanding, concentric arcs from a central multipurpose space, the mall will have multiple anchors, including a two-story SM Store, as well as an SM Hypermarket and SM mainstays like SM Appliance Center, Watsons and Kultura Filipino. It will have over 400 food and retail shops, including international brands.

Eating-out options include specialty restaurants, international and local food chains, as well as a food court. Cebuanos will enjoy the leisure and entertainment excitement of an IMAX Theater, a 16-lane Bowling and Amusement Center and an Olympic-size ice-skating rink. It will also have four state-of-the-art cinemas, two director’s clubs and one live theater.

What makes SM Seaside City Cebu a must-see?

1Its nautilus design concept.  This is inspired by the spiral shell with a pale pearly partition, which includes a series of expanding, concentric arcs.

2The Cube. Viewed from any angle, this sculptural piece consistently appears the same. This consistency reflects the same high level of quality service in all areas it operates. Interestingly, the word “Cube,” when rearranged, form the word “Cebu.”

3The Sky Park. This will be a welcome and much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of city life, featuring diverse dining outlets situated among verdant trees and charming ponds. Nestled among verdant foliage and soothing water features, it will highlight installations by renowned Cebuano designer Kenneth Cobonpue when completed.

4The iconic Seaside Tower. The 25-story tower has a roof deck, viewing deck and restaurants, offering sensational panoramic views of the entire city of Cebu.

5Global brands and the best of Cebu. SM Seaside City Cebu will raise shopping standards in the Queen City of the South as home to major global brands and homegrown brands and food outlets.

Keeping with the nautilus-inspired theme, the mall’s car park will be incorporated into the structure, helping define the semicircular volume of the building. For customer convenience, there will be a covered parking area with 4,336 slots.

SM Seaside City Cebu’s design team includes Arquitectonica, design architect; Gardens by Sanders, landscape design; WV Coscolluela, architect of record; SM EDD Mall Design, in-house architect; Monolith Construction, general contractor; and DA Abcede, project manager.