SHAH ALAM: i-City has appointed Savills Malaysia to operate and reposition CityWalk as part of its plans to develop i-City into an AI and robotics urban centre anchored by the 500-unit residential tower in development, i-Ris, AI Living @ i-City.
The collaboration will combine Savills’ retail and placemaking expertise with i-City’s ecosystem of residences, offices, hotels, attractions and technology initiatives.
Savills will lead CityWalk’s mall operations, leasing, tenant mix and activation, while exploring how its future retail positioning can support the wider AI Living environment.
CityWalk is an approximately 180,000 sq ft open-air retail destination located beside the planned i-Ris residential tower, complemented by a further 120,000 sq ft of space for events and activation.
Directly opposite i-Ris is Central i-City mall, the regional shopping mall jointly developed by i-City and Thailand’s Central Pattana Group, giving future residents access to complementary open-air lifestyle and regional shopping experiences.
i-Ris is also planned to be connected to CityWalk by an overhead link bridge, bringing its services within convenient reach of residents.
“AI Living is not intended to end at the front door of the residence,” said i-City director Datuk Eu Hong Chew.
“i-Ris is the residential expression of that idea, but the home is part of a wider urban experience.
“Through CityWalk and Central i-City mall, we have an opportunity to bring together the services, activities and experiences that will make AI Living more useful and relevant to residents in their daily lives.”
CityWalk already offers grocery, fitness, food and beverage and entertainment uses, and Savills will build on this base by curating a more distinctive retail and lifestyle mix that complements Central i-City mall and responds to the needs of i-City’s growing residential, business and visitor communities.
“Savills will be looking at curating and refreshing both dining as well as other experiential retail offerings to make it more current and forward-looking to enhance repeat visits as well as dwell time within CityWalk,” said Savills Malaysia retail service head Murli Menon.
As part of the repositioning, Savills will also examine opportunities for technology, wellness, learning and lifestyle concepts, including AI and robotics-related retail, demonstrations, services and experiences.
The intention is to explore how CityWalk can provide residents and visitors with practical and engaging ways to experience the technologies shaping the future of urban living.
Through this repositioning, i-City’s longer-term goal is to establish CityWalk as the retail centre for AI and robotics within the township.
“Retail destinations through their theme, concept and tenant mix must reflect the people they serve and give them reasons to return,” said Savills Malaysia group managing director Datuk Paul Khong.
“At CityWalk, our first aim is to improve the fundamentals of this retail destination and its commercial performance. We will work with i-City to identify where ‘AI and robotics’ related concepts can add value and enhance demand and experience for visitors, residents and retailers.”
The appointment gives CityWalk a strategic role in the continuing evolution of i-City.
Eu added that, “i-City has spent more than two decades building the physical and digital foundations of the township.
“Savills brings the specialist retail capabilities to help us shape the next phase of CityWalk and determine how it can contribute to our transformation into an AI and robotics urban centre.”
i-Ris, AI Living @ i-City, is targeted for completion in 2030. By beginning the repositioning of CityWalk while the residential tower is being developed, i-City aims to progressively establish the surrounding retail and lifestyle environment that future residents will be able to access directly from their homes.
For more information, visit https://corp.i-city.my/.
