MDS Architecture has refurbished Kwagga Plaza for McCormick Property Development and it will be named Kwagga Mall. Located in Kwaggafontein, Mpumalanga, the existing open-air plaza is being converted into an enclosed mall, thus extending the GLA of the 25 year old building to 34 000 m2.
The first phase is complete - an extension of Shoprite – while phase 2 (a new Pick n Pay) is due to open in December 2017.
Louis Pretorius, MDS Architecture’s partner and lead on this project, says that by the end of 2017, about half of the building will be enclosed, all shopfronts will be replaced and the building will feature new external cladding. Construction will be halted at the beginning of December to allow tenants to trade during the year-end busy period.
Kwagga Plaza will get a complete facelift. Old face brick facades will feature steel cladding and continuous shopfronts, creating a thoroughly modern feel. Three new entrances will be built, as will water tanks and a new sewerage plant.
The taxi rank is being repositioned and food outlets are being concentrated in a food court. Additional parking has been created as a result of breaking down a number of blocks. “Over the years, a number of extra blocks were added to the plaza at various levels. Added to this, the site has a large fall, which turned out to be quite a design challenge,” says Pretorius.
