Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre – Final Stage Open!
The heart of Melbourne’s eastern growth corridor has been completed following the final stage opening of the $120M expansion and revitalisation of Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre.
The shopping centre owned by Federation Centres with the design delivered by i2C is a renewed ‘community hub’ for locals to meet, shop
and socialise.
Several years ago i2C was challenged to pursue the most iconic and creative outcome to enrich the Cranbourne community experience while maintaining important elements of the existing design, development and surrounding fabric.
“The existing centre had some real challenges, it was important to engage the right design team for the master planning phase of this project. Brian Jende has a reputation in the market place for the upfront master planning process… as the master planning phase unfolded it was obvious that i2C had the capability to deliver the other documentation and construction stages. Consistency is the key to any development, “ cites Tim Crowe, Development Manager Federation Centres.
Initially viewed as an obstacle, the iconic heritage oak tree identified on-site defined the architectural narrative and elements were woven into the façade treatment and reflected throughout the centre. “In all my years in the industry the outcomes that have been achieved with the facade treatment at Cranbourne Park is of the highest design standard, to undertake what has been achieved is impressive. The facade treatment is nothing like what you will see on any other shopping centre; this has set Cranbourne Park in a positive light within the industry” says Tim.
i2C’s Managing Director, Brian Jende describes the need to create a vibrant contemporary shopping centre that brought the community together. “We (i2C) have embraced the long-standing design elements that the community embraced and developed these ideas to create a dynamic and accessible ‘place’ that the Cranbourne community can feel they really ‘own’. It’s wonderful to see the final piece of the puzzle come together from such a team response.”
Working along with the team, building company Hacer Group feel the same way “We were extremely proud to handover the main stage of the Cranbourne Park Project earlier this year. Having worked with i2C, ADP and Hyder Consulting collaboratively to deliver each separable portion, the finished result was a real sense of achievement for the Cranbourne team,” said Michael Leighton, Design Manager.
There was also the challenge to provide a seamless transition from existing internal finishes to the new. Tim Crowe of Federation agrees “You are hard pushed to pick where the new and the old meet. From a retail perspective, this adds enormous value when it comes to repositioning a centre.” Additionally, a successful shopping centre relies on a strong retail plan and Tim highlighted the need for sound retail knowledge. “Leasing 100 plus shops in a development such as Cranbourne Park requires all the team to be fluid, to overcome the challenges leasing brings to the table.”
Wesfarmers have several new stores in the centre. “The new Coles store opened with a new Liquorland, Target and a refurbished Kmart resulting in a great outcome for Wesfarmers,” discusses Paul Banks, State Manager Vic Property – Coles Group
The City of Casey was another stakeholder in the development and the relationship was one that strengthened over the journey. City of Casey Mayor Cr Mick Morland advises that Council worked collaboratively with Federation Centres and i2C to achieve a fantastic outcome for the local community. “This is a great boost for Cranbourne and shows the value to be gained when Council and private developers work together,” said Mayor Morland.
The successful partnership resulted in an exciting streetscape with visually-striking architecture and huge improvements in the activity along High Street, Cranbourne. Paul Banks from Coles Group agrees “The world-class facility is an important part of the improving fabric of Cranbourne and will serve the community well into the future.”
The restaurant precinct has injected life into a previously under-utilised area, delivering outdoor decked dining and a great connection with the street, and the office development has created employment and education opportunities close to the heart of this thriving community.