A comprehensive masterplan for the Sarit Centre’s future expansion was undertaken by PLANNING in 2014, with proposals for new retail areas adjacent to the existing mall involving the incorporation of adjacent plots in the development. Comprehensive parking strategies and a traffic study incorporated public road expansion plans to ease traffic congestion in the new, expanded Sarit Centre. The client thereafter decided to implement Phase III of this Masterplan, which has created an additional 45,000 sqm of leasable retail area and a dedicated parking silo for 1,200 cars.

The new retail consists of a semi-basement that houses the main anchor tenant with its own dedicated delivery yard, along with line shop and Food & Beverage outlets. The floors above are a combination of line shops and sub-anchor tenants. At the top is the main open-to-sky food court and a 4,000 sqm exhibition hall with all facilities that go with hosting a world-class exhibition. A 5-screen IMAX cinema and a kid play zone are also part of the new retail space and sit as separate structures adjacent to the new retail mall.

The new phase has been designed to seamlessly integrate with the existing ‘old’ mall, with a continuous retail loop with no dead-ends or cul-de-sacs. Part of the architectural scope has been the refurbishment of the existing mall, which has brought it up to par with the new phase. This involved re-planning tenants, re-designing all public finishes, washrooms, and incorporating new escalators and lifts.