Lerthai Center, designed by Los Angeles-based architecture design and planning firm The Jerde Partnership, has opened in Shijiazhuang, China.

The mixed-use complex was developed by local company Lerthai Commercial Real Estate Group, and spans a total of more than 620,000 sqm comprising hotels, offices and apartments, and a shopping mall.

The fully leased six-level indoor shopping mall houses four-level department store, a Carrefour hypermarket, 200 retailers and entertainment venues. It is complemented by underground parking for 2300 cars and 1200 motorcycles.

In addition to major retailers, the mall includes an ice-skating rink, performing arts center, cinema, international dining and landscape and garden features.

Complementing the indoor retail is the outdoor SJZ Street – a village atmosphere with a collection of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and an outdoor garden terrace that draws visitors from the street into the center.

A unique ‘dragon canopy’ hovering over exterior express escalators takes visitors from the ground street directly up to level five. While the interior retail areas maintain a modern approach, SJZ Street is reminiscent of the cultural and traditional elements of city life in Shijiazhuang.

“Our design approach was to attract the local population by introducing real experiences, knowing that tourists and visitors will follow because they want to be immersed in the city’s best place,” said Tammy McKerrow, senior design principal at Jerde.

GB