Keeping the Promise
By Ezra Mogwe
Sebele Shopping Complex has kept the promise of being the place to Stop, Shop, Meet and Eat
The grand opening of Sebele Shopping Complex in June 2011 was truly a momentous ceremony. Mostly targeting local Sebele, Phakalane, Gaborone Block 10 and Gaborone North dwellers, Sebele Shopping Centre was officially opened on 23′ June 2011 by Sandy Kelly, Director of PrimeTime Holdings.
In addition to the mentioned categories of customers, the new P98 million mall gets business from bypassing travelers who need to stock up for the journey ahead as it is located very conveniently on the Al highway.
Shoppers enjoyed fantastic opening offers right through to 26th June 2011 at this long needed convenience center.
The shoppers were dazzled by funky tunes and friendly faces with performances by traditional dance groups to celebrate this occasion.
Those who could not make it to the launch were given a sneak preview through a live broadcast on RB2 (Radio Botswana 2), a local radio station, so they could also partake in spirit. One year later, Sebele Centre has kept the promise of being the place to STOP, SHOP, MEET and EAT.
Client Brief
The client for the mall project is PrimeTime Property Holding, the Botswana listed property fund. The brief was to design a shopping center with easy access from every direction. The mall had to be a modern, functional, and convenience shopping center that people would like to shop at. The idea was to make the customers’ shopping experience as fun as possible.
Description
The entire mall comprises of two detached buildings. The first and larger
of the two has an “L” shaped design with the inner part of the “L” facing the parking lot and the A1 beyond. All retail shops are located on the ground floor centered around the anchor tenant, Pick n Pay, while the offices are placed on the first floor with all the eateries iituated togethere east side of ihr e center. Custo e offered a riety of store options in the form of well esteemed shops, a hardware store, restaurants, technology stores and rntich more to t tlipirihoppin needs.
, The smaller building, which houses toy shop, is located east of the larger one with a road between the buildings and additional parking in front of it.
There is also a small circle for controlling vehicular traffic which has unique lighting that truly stands out and adds to the exquisite aesthetic of the mall.
The whole idea was to use materials that are environmentally friendly and at the same not compromising quality.
The total built up area of the center is 9139 square meters and the parking is finished with asphalt with special lighting.
Challenge
The main challenge that was experienced was with the Public Sector industrial Strike which affected the opening date of the center.
Though the mall was promptly completed in May 2011, there was delay in opening since the required trading licenses could not be obtained on time. This resulted in the mall being opened a month later than anticipated.
Timeless Shopping Experience
The concept on which this mall was founded works perfectly i.e Convenience centre and the tenant mix will forever make Sebele Centre work. It will not be in any way competing with the recently opened neighboring Airport Junction, a destination centre which does not have the easy “pop-in” access that Sebele Centre has. Sebele Mall was constructed with the confidence that it would stand the test of time.
Project Team
Project Manager: Time Projects
Architect: Paul Munnik Architects
Quantity Surveyor: MLC Quantity Surveyors
Civil Structural Engineers: ADA Consulting Engineers
Electrical Mechanical Engineers: AR Edwards & Associates
Main Contractor: Red East Construction
Electrical Sub Contracts: B& h Electrical
Aluminum Sub Contractors: Alucraft
Timber Trusses: Tlhomeso Timbers
