Multi Development Germany opens Boulevard Berlin (DE)

Boulevard Berlin is located in the middle of Schlossstrasse at the site of the former Wertheim and Karstadt department stores. It is one of the largest inner-city retail centers in Germany, with a rental space of 76,000 m², about 160 rental units for retail stores, services and dining concepts and a fitness center. The €390 million project in Berlin-Steglitz sets a new quality standard in design and comfortable shopping experiences.

Due to its size and prominent position, the center has special importance in the urban construction and design-based upgrading of the Schlossstrasse. The redesign of the Wertheim and Karstadt stores was guided by careful city planning combined with high quality architecture. Access to Boulevard Berlin is by its own integrated Metro station as well as the city highway and 850 parking spaces; all providing excellent conditions for a fully integrated inner city center.

Axel Funke, CEO of Multi Development Germany: "It was great to oversee this project from creation to completion. Of course, Berlin-Steglitz and Schlossstrasse already have much to offer in terms of retail supply, but it is also crucial that people feel comfortable when shopping and that the atmosphere is right. I am convinced that we have created, with Boulevard Berlin, a place where both the supply and the environment are most attractive."

Multi Development's in-house architectural design company T+T Design was responsible for the master plan and oversaw the entire design and realization process.

Particular importance in the project was given to the connection with, and revitalization of, the park. Currently at the rear of the site, the park will form the new front side and be connected to the busy Schlossstrasse through gastronomic and other services.

The sole tenant of the first phase, with about 25,000 m² gross leasable area, is a Karstadt Department Store, which opened April 1, 2009. Karstadt Sports is also an anchor tenant in the new Boulevard Berlin complex, occupying an area of around 4,000 m². The center offers sales levels from the basement up to the second floor. In addition to the main entrance on the Schloßstraße, there is another main entrance towards the park.

Alongside anchor tenants Karstadt, Karstadt sports and Saturn, are Douglas, New York, comma, Hall, Huber, H & M, Zara, Esprit, Oliver, Cotton On, Mexx, Gerry Weber, Selected, Desigual, G Star, Promod. Hollister and Zara Home also open their first stores in Berlin in Boulevard Berlin.

"With an occupancy rate of nearly 90%, the center is not fully leased at the time of opening, but the demand for space nearing completion of the center has once again increased significantly, so we strongly expect that the few remaining spaces will be rented out and be occupied by this Autumn" said Sladjan Marinkovic, Multi Development Germany's Head of Leasing.

Until the opening of the restaurant area on the second floor terrace, the center will be managed by MultiSec Mall Management. With the completion of this third section in the summer of 2012, the investor Corio, Germany, will operate the center.

BREEAM Certified 'Excellent' for Sustainability
The corporate philosophy of Multi Development ensures that the sustainability and environmental impact of projects are maximized from the first planning step to achieve outstanding environmental performance.

BREEAM is an internationally applicable classification system for sustainable building, and has been designated the definitive assessment criteria of the ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers)

The BREEAM assessment is based on eight categories; including aspects of air and water pollution, land use, operation of energy and CO2 emissions. The eight categories lead to an overall assessment of the building, which is expressed in a star scale. The 'Excellent' award means that the building has achieved four out of four stars.

Source: Multi

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