The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Asia Pacific Shopping Center Awards recently celebrated excellence in the region’s shopping center industry. Awards recognized outstanding achievements in marketing, retail property design and development, and retail store design.

The Design & Development category acknowledges retail properties for their overall design quality and development creativity, whether through renovation or expansion of an existing property or the innovative design of a new retail project. This category includes both new developments and renovations & expansions.

Source: D-Cube City website. D-Cube City.

The prestigious gold award in the Design & Development category at the _2014 Asia Pacific Shopping Center Awards _went to Daesung Industrial Co.’s D-Cube City in Seoul, Korea. This 75,000 square meter space, once a large coal processing plant, is now home to 171 stores. The ICSC recognized D-Cube City as a new benchmark in mixed-use, transit-oriented development.

Source: Jem website. Jem.

Jem Singapore received a gold/sustainable award in the same category. This 76,000 square meter mall, boasting 235 stores, is owned by Lend Lease Retail Investments 3 and Lend Lease Commercial Investments. Designed by SAA Architects, Jem’s construction utilized over 100% green replacement materials and incorporates numerous energy-saving features within its architecture and infrastructure.

The 108,470 square meter iapm Mall in Shanghai, China, secured the silver award in the Design & Development category. Owned by Sun Hung Kai Properties and designed by Benoy, this 200-store mall offers a unique “shoppertainment” experience. It houses luxury fashion brands, a lifestyle store, an IMAX cinema, and a variety of global dining options.

SM Aura Premier claimed the second silver award in the category. This 199,616 square meter mall, located in Taguig, Philippines, and owned by SM Prime Holdings, is a hub for fashion, dining, and entertainment. It boasts a six-level retail space with 206 stores, three levels of underground parking, and a 30-story office tower offering a panoramic view of the city.

Other notable mentions in the category included the 87,000 square meter INDIGO, an integrated mixed-use development in Beijing, China. Home to 170 stores, this development is owned by Swire Properties and Sino-Ocean Land Holdings and designed by Benoy. INDIGO encompasses a shopping center, a hotel, office space, over 1,200 car parking spaces, and direct access to Beijing Metro Line 14.

Malaysia’s green-rated Setia City Mall earned recognition for its retail and food & beverage mix designed to provide families with enjoyable and budget-friendly experiences. Located in Shah Alam and owned by Greenhill Resources, this 734,752 square meter mall houses 220 stores.

Source: Siam Center Company. Siam Center.

In the Renovations & Expansions category, The Siam Center, The Ideaopolis renovation project in Bangkok, Thailand, earned a gold award. This project is owned by Siam Piwat Company. Siam Center features exclusive product lines and services, hosts art exhibitions throughout the year, and encompasses 21,210 square meters of retail space across 145 stores.

Mrs. Chadatip Chutrakul, Chief Executive Officer of Siam Piwat Company, highlighted the renovation project Siam Center, the Ideaopolis as the recipient of Asia Pacific Shopping Center Awards for two consecutive years. It stands as the only shopping center in Thailand to win an award in 2014. She emphasized the gold award in Design and Development as a testament to Siam Piwat’s commitment to innovation and their journey toward becoming a global leader in innovative retail. She noted the project’s unique collaboration, where the shopping center and all its retail stores united to create exclusive displays and decor for Siam Center, establishing a distinctive identity for the mall.

The Highpoint Shopping Centre redevelopment in Maribyrnong, Australia, was honored with a silver award in the Renovation & Expansion category. The US$300 million renovation project included the addition of 100 new premium fashion and lifestyle stores, enhancing the shopping experience for Melbourne residents. This mall, owned by Highpoint Property Group, the GPT Wholesale Shopping Centre Fund, and The GPT Group, spans 145,600 square meters of retail space and houses 491 stores.

Plaza Singapura in Singapore, owned by CapitaMall Trust, received another silver award for its new extension, which was completed in February 2013. This mall offers a total retail space of 57,541 square meters and features 324 stores. Designed by Benoy, Plaza Singapura showcases a signature flowing ribbon façade and provides a comprehensive shopping experience with approximately 330 fashion, dining, entertainment, and lifestyle offerings. According to Singapore’s RSP Architects, Planners & Engineers’ website, a new extension seamlessly connects the office building and shopping mall with transportation hubs and the surrounding area. RSP oversaw the renovation.

Finalists in the category included Choi Yuen Plaza in Hong Kong, with 132,281 square meters of retail space across 107 stores. Owned by The Link Management, Choi Yuen Plaza’s renovation features a footbridge with a timber roof, streamlined decking and benches surrounded by greenery. The renovation also expanded the mall’s retail offerings.

Leung King Plaza, also in Hong Kong, houses 133 stores across 165,068 square meters of total retail space and is owned by The Link Management. The mall underwent a two-year asset enhancement project, which modernized its infrastructure, interior design, exterior façades, and courtyards.

Owned by the Fashion TV Building Owners Association, Lotte FITIN in Seoul’s Dongdaemun Market area offers young trendsetters an organized and secure shopping environment. Spanning 18,513 square meters, the mall showcases designer shops and restaurants from Seoul’s fashionable districts across 148 stores.

The New Glorietta in Makati City, Philippines, encompasses five hotels, two office towers, two residential high-rises, and expansive retail zones. Owned by Ayala Land, the mall features 219 stores spread across 233,696 square meters.

The expansion of Roxburgh Park Shopping Centre in Australia resulted in a total retail space of 24,730 square meters, effectively doubling its size. This expansion, owned and developed by the CFS Retail Property Trust Group, has created a central hub for the community, offering cafes and restaurants, fresh food options, and everyday shopping needs across its 53 stores.

The complete list of winners can be found here.

Read the blog post about the winners of emerging technology here.