RM300mil expansion gives 1 Utama total of 600 retail outlets

SEE Hoy Chan Holdings Group unit, Bandar Utama City Centre Sdn Bhd, has launched its RM300mil extension of 1 Utama Shopping Centre which, with a total gross area of five million sq ft, makes it possibly the biggest shopping mall in Petaling Jaya. 

The extension, referred to as "1 Utama's extended family", has gross lettable retail space of approximately one million sq ft. If the original phase of the shopping centre is included, it has a combined retail space of about 1.68 million sq ft. 

With the new phase, which was launched yesterday by the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, the shopping centre features a total of 600 retail outlets and more than 7,000 parking bays. 

Speaking at the launch in Petaling Jaya yesterday, See Hoy Chan Group director Datuk Teo Chiang Kok said over the last six to seven years, there had been a marked increase in Bandar Utama's the standard of living in Bandar Utama and its population's level of affluence.  

He said there was a real need to fulfil the increasingly sophisticated expectations of the suburb's growing population and the company had focused its efforts on "developing a shopping centre with a difference." 

Sultan Sharafuddin with Datuk Teo Chiang Kok (right) and See Hoy Chan Holdings Group chairman Datuk Teo Soo Cheng (second from left) at the launch of the new wing yesterday.

Two unique features of the expanded shopping centre new expansion is are a three-level overhead pedestrian mall and an underground tunnel that would seamlessly integrates the two phases.  

This enables shoppers to are now able to shop in between the two phases without having to make their way through the noise and pollution from heavy traffic. 

It also features renowned international retail brands, among which are Calvin Klein's first new concept store in Malaysia, and Polo Ralph Lauren's first suburban store. 

A unique prominent feature of 1 Utama is that it has its own iced water-making and storage system that makes ice water at night when there is surplus power supply. The iced water is then utilised during the day daytime to enhance the air-conditioning. 

"If other energy users followed our example, we will eventually need smaller capacity power stations. We are doing our bit bid for the environment by tapping idling idle electricity at night; thus we are not competing for peak demand during the day," Teo said. 

See Hoy Chan Holdings Group has interests in property development, property investment, plantations, mortgaging and education.  

Bandar Utama City Centre is the owner-manager of the shopping centre.