Development project management: Alegro Alfragide
How to transform a retail asset into a living, working and leisure space?
One of Nhood’s main challenges regarding Development Project Management is to generate added value in the projects developed, securing positive impact for the planet and people and focusing on inhabitants’ needs and urban regeneration.
The aim is to anticipate and prepare each asset under development with “ingredients”, or characteristics, that enable a transition from the current urban model to the 15-Minute City concept.
The Alegro Alfragide Look & Feel Project was coordinated and managed by Nhood’s Development team, particularly the coordination and management of different stakeholders and external and internal teams.
Nhood’s Development team was involved in the pre-construction and construction phases of the Project, covering all phases from the scope of works definition to the developed design, including the management and setting out of procurement strategies and the management and coordination of the construction phase.
Challenges that call for innovative solutions
On multiple fronts, this project aims to provide an innovative response to the specific weaknesses of a shopping centre with a reduced mall area, such as Alegro Alfragide. All this without neglecting issues to be improved, such as the low incidence of natural light nor the inherent demands of the retail market.
The project’s narrative creates a new and different customer experience through a total renovation of the space with a set of digital, art/culture and vegetation micro-concepts that are “dematerialised” throughout the mall.
An attempt was made to break with the existing architecture by introducing a concept with pure, neutral lines. As a result, we managed to reduce the “information”, or visual noise, that Alegro Alfragide had in the past. Tenants were given priority and a new prominent presence.
One intervention, several fronts
As part of the Look & Feel project, Alegro Alfragide will undergo improvements to its parking area, mall, seating areas, WCs and food court. More:
- The “arrival”: through the redesign of the parking lot, ceilings with a lighting system marking the main accesses to the centre and an emphasis on the lobbies linked to the different micro-concepts of the Project – digital, art and nature. Installation of a parking management system and new lighting for greater efficiency.
- Mall: through a strategy of commercial reorganisation and renovation of the mall’s skylights, favouring the entry of natural light for a more pleasant and welcoming experience.
- Events Plaza: renovated with a digital concept that allows each event to be enhanced and harmonises the space.
- Food court: a completely renovated and different space, enhanced by a concept inspired by nature and reinforced by a strong presence of natural vegetation inspired by the proximity to the Serra de Monsanto. New furnishings combined with a layout study allowed for an increase in the number of seats available and greater overall efficiency throughout the food court.
- WCs: a renovation of the WCs in tune with the concepts of the adjacent squares, allowing for an integrated experience throughout the space.
Good practices always on track
Alegro Alfragide has become an asset of excellence in terms of certifications, demonstrated, for example, with the BREEAM in-Use certification in the categories of Building Performance and Management with an “Excellent” rating.
In line with this stance and the ESG principle that guides Nhood, all the solutions and materials chosen during the project aim at optimising resources and consumption and low greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, preference was given to local suppliers with carbon footprint reduction or mitigation strategies.
The Alfragide Look & Feel project represents an investment of 10 million euros, and its main objective is to improve the customer experience and, consequently, the attractiveness and commercial value of this asset under Nhood’s management.
By: Miguel Cunha, Development Project Manager, Nhood Portugal
