Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Issue link: https://sct.epubxp.com/i/62026
just save money, it also impresses ten- ants and shoppers, says Pablo Torres, general director of Centro Comercial's Triángulo Las Ánimas shopping cen- ter, in Puebla, Mexico, which is seeking LEED certification. Impressing the gov- ernment is becoming increasingly im- portant too, Torres says. "What today is voluntary soon will become the norm," he said. "If so, we will be ahead of the game." That is already happening, says Kwan. "The Chilean government is con- sidering including LEED specifications as part of its standard technical bidding documents," she said. "Mexico has em- braced many of the same concepts. In Brazil the national development bank has made LEED a requirement of offer- ing financing for public infrastructure projects like stadiums." SCT Retail real estate's sustainability champions Ùnico Centro Comercial Outlet Pasto, Colombia This one-year-old mall uses a small, on-site forest and river for recre- ational facilities. The pathways are made from dirt removed dur- ing construction. Inside, the mall uses natural light and motion detectors in the hallways to shut off equipment not in use. Owner: Ùnico Outlet Mall Plaza Egaña La Reina, Chile Set to open in 2013, this mall will use wood from the local forests and, for cooling, light-colored exterior finishes and a roof garden. The developer has agreed to gauge the carbon and greenhouse gas levels during construction. Owner: Mall Plaza Manauara Shopping Manaus, Brazil The three-year-old Manauara Shopping center, with the Amazon River surrounding, operates a park- ing system that actively guides drivers to available spaces, thus reducing fuel consumption. The project also uses native vegeta- tion. Its toilets consume just two liters of water per flush, versus the conventional six. Owner: Sonae Sierra Brazil Ágora Mall Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic This is the Caribbean's first LEED-certified shopping center. Energy costs for tenants are projected to be 12 to 15 percent lower than at conven- tional malls, and the project is ex- pected to reduce water consump- tion by up to 40 percent over the levels at other malls. Owner: Glamis 204 SCT / MAY 2012 Macroplaza Vallarta Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Architect firm Planigroup preserved a parota tree believed to be at least 50 years old in the central open plaza, and 13 palm trees offer shade. All pluvial water returns to the Pitillal River. The roof con- sists of recyclable red mud tile, which is produced in the region. Owner: A Clarion Partners fund Complejo Recreo La Castellana Caracas, Venezuela This mall, which is slated to open in 2014, will be positioned in such a way as to minimize exposure to the sun. Insulated glass walls will further keep out heat while allowing in light and minimizing electricity use. Recycled water will be used in cooling towers and on plantings. Owner: Grupo NSM