SMIC sets P2.4 B to build exhibition, call center facility

SMIC sets P2.4 B to build exhibition, call center facility
Fri Jan 13,2006
Manila Bulletin
http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS2006011353700.html#

SM Investment Corporation will break ground for two new buildings worth P2.4 billion in the first quarter of 2006 at the 60-hectare SM Central Business Park in Manila.

Based on a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) yesterday, SMIC will put up the Philippines’ first privately-run exhibition and convention center, and a 10-story courtyard-oriented e-commerce building.

Both buildings will be right beside the Mall of Asia, which is designed to become not just the Philippines’ largest but also the most complete and innovative shopping complex.

The 40,000-square meter SM Exhibition and Convention Center, the first of its kind in the Philippines, is envisioned to become a favored venue for major conferences and trade exhibits, as well as for other international and local events.

The building will have two floors, a mezzanine and basement parking with a total leasable area of 17,800 square meters featuring large exhibition areas and function rooms. Construction is expected to cost P900 million.

Meanwhile, the 94,000-square meter SM eCOMCenter will have a total leasable area of 67,900 square meters with 7 floors alloted for office space, two and a half floors for parking, and the ground floor for commercial uses.

The eCOMCenter will have a typical floor plate of 8,750 square meters with four service cores and is expected to cost P1.5 billion.

The SM eCOMCenter will provide offices and workspaces with leading edge facilities and amenities necessary for e-commerce businesses such as BPOs, call centers and other service companies.

The nearby SM Corporate Headquarters is already home to US-based Teletech while the soon-to-open Mall of Asia will house the call center of the world’s largest computer maker, Dell, Inc.

Both the convention center and the eCOMCenter are expected to be completed by the middle of 2007.

Apart from these two buildings, other developments are being planned for the SM Central Business Park.

These include corporate headquarters for one or two conglomerates, hotels, office and residential clusters, a coliseum for sporting events and entertainment shows as well as a ferry terminal.

Over the long term, the SM Central Business Park with its strategic location, will emerge as the foremost and the only central business district (CBD) by the bay, integrating business park facilities with entertainment, recreational, tourism, and residential land uses.