Megaworld revives historic sugar mill in P1.8-B new mall concept
Tycoon Andrew Tan-led Megaworld Corp. is investing P1.8 billion to build a new shopping mall inside its mixed-use estate Capital Town in San Fernando, Pampanga.
To be completed in 2022, the upcoming “Capital Mall” would be a three-level mall with gross floor area of around 33,000 square meters, Megaworld disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Monday.
“We are curating a new and unique design concept for this mall. As a tribute to the legacy of Pampanga’s oldest sugar mill, we will build the Capital Mall with its rich cultural heritage in mind. Other recovered portions of the sugar mill such as the giant bull gears, sprockets and mechanical parts will become part of the mall’s interiors,” said Kevin Tan, chief strategy officer at Megaworld.
Capital Mall pitches a unique architecture that mimics the sugar mill, reminiscent of the original structure that stood on the same spot of the 35.6-hectare Capital Town. This was the old site of the historic sugar central of Pampanga Sugar Development Co. (Pasudeco) that was built a century ago.
The mall will also feature the recreated chimneys of the Pasudeco central, while the bricks recovered from the original sugar mill will be used for the shopping complex’s interior walls.
Based on the design, The Capital Mall will have a landscaped garden enclave of restaurants and cafes surrounded by water ponds and century-old trees. It will also have four state-of-the-art cinemas, a food hall and a shophouse strip.
“Even the food hall will sport an industrial architecture highlighted by more mementos of the sugar central. The cinemas will also feature the 1960s charm and ambience,” Tan added.
Just like in its other new malls, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls is integrating sustainability features for Capital Mall such as solar roofing provisions and rain water harvesting facility.
Megaworld is currently operating 17 commercial and mall properties in its portfolio. Construction of the Capital Mall will start in the first half of 2020.
