The ICSC Award is to the international shopping center branch what the Oscar is to the film industry. At its annual conference in Phoenix (USA), the "International Council of Shopping Centers" (ICSC) bestowed its annual, globally competitive "ICSC International Design and Development Award".
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On Photo: EUROPARK Salzburg.
EUROPARK Salzburg was chosen as winner for not one, but two of the coveted trophies. This is absolutely unique. Never before in the story of ICSC has been given to the same shopping center two awards simultaneously in two different categories. On one hand, the architectural design and overall concept, and on the other, the sustainable development of EUROPARK was judged as outstanding and trend-setting. This was communicated by the Chief Executive of SPAR Austria, Dr. Gerhard Drexel, the CEO of SES Spar European Shopping Centers and EUROPARK Managing Director, Mag. Marcus Wild and EUROPARK Center Manager, Mag. Christoph Andexlinger upon their return from the award ceremonies.
The so-called ICSC Award was bestowed this year for the 31st time. With 67,000 members from more than 100 countries, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) is the most important organization in the world for shopping centers. Its awards are considered the most coveted distinction, internationally; the winners are counted within the branch among the best companies world-wide of their categories. Every candidate is examined extensively on location by an international jury of architects, commercial experts and investors. The criteria extend far beyond the architecture and the ambience. They also comprise social functions as well as the innovative spirit and the profitability of the overall concept.
EUROPARK Salzburg is the first Austrian shopping center to be awarded this prize. In Phoenix, EUROPARK asserted itself in the "Expansion" category and was awarded the prize in a unanimous decision. In its explanation, the jury accentuated not only the architecture but, among other things, the innovation of the cultural center OVAL located in the shopping center as well as the social commitment as exhibited, for example, in the company-run kindergarten, open, year-round.
"EUROPARK Salzburg has once again proven to be Austria's leading shopping center" emphasizes Gerhard Drexel. This is where not only the highest return per square meter of sales surface of all Austrian shopping centers is achieved. Now the overall concept has received international recognition of a kind which is unique in Austria. With the achievement of this award, a formerly unimagined international brand awareness and acceptance is linked with EUROPARK. "The interest was enormous already at the conference in the USA; we were one of the predominant topics. Since then, we have daily requests for guided tours or publications", says a proud Marcus Wild. The bestowing of the awards is also affirmation for the outstanding cooperation during the EUROPARK development with the city planning of the city of Salzburg.
ICSC awarded EUROPARK Salzburg additionally with the Special Prize for Sustainable Design which is highly significant especially in the USA. The reasons stated include the fact besides others that EUROPARK Salzburg sets a n
