Entries for 2013 Retail Design and Development Awards (RDDA) open

Amanda Stops, CEO of the SACSC, explains the criteria judges will look for in this year’s winners: “Qualities which feature strongly on the evaluation scorecard include excellent design resolution"

Entries for the 2013 annual Retail Design and Development Awards (RDDA), a South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) initiative, are open. The awards, sponsored by Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, demonstrate the high calibre of the South African retail property industry.

New and existing shopping centres will have the chance to prove their worth, and success, in the annual RDDA Awards.

The RDDA acknowledges and celebrates economic success and innovation within the retail property industry.

This year, making it easier to enter, the simplified online submission process only takes a few quick clicks.

“At Nedbank - as leaders in commercial property finance - we have noted the trends in the design of retail shopping centres over the years, including the shops that are to occupy them.  Of particular interest is the increase in and inclusion of environmental aspects in the design and architecture, which is strongly aligned to green building principles”, says Frank Berkeley, Managing Executive: Nedbank Corporate Property Finance.  We are proud to sponsor the awards as this allows us to recognise and showcase excellence in South African retail design and development,” adds Berkeley”

The adjudicators, a panel of recognised and respected retail and property specialists, face the challenge of identifying the entries showing the highest calibre, not only shopping malls and centres, but shops too, both in South Africa and abroad.

Amanda Stops, CEO of the SACSC, explains the criteria judges will look for in this year’s winners: “Qualities which feature strongly on the evaluation scorecard include excellent design resolution, achieving overall development objectives, response to environment and market, innovation and construction solutions as well as embracing environmental techniques.”

The awards cover five different categories of retail development, with new shopping centre developments judged in two groups according to size: greater than and less than 20,000sqm.

The importance of growth and development within the retail sector will also feature at the awards with expansions or renovations to an existing centre making up its own unique category.

The design of any shop or restaurant in a shopping centre will be catered for with its own award. “It isn’t only retailers that can enter this category. Shopping centres can also nominate their stand-out stores,” says Stops.

The final category celebrates retail excellence outside of South Africa.

“The SACSC Retail Design and Development Awards honour the extraordinary. They also encourage it,” says Stops. “It is thanks to awards sponsor, Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, that excellence in South African retail design and development can be showcased to inspire and incentivise an even more exciting future for the sector.”