Center of attention

It's official - Stary Browar (Old Brewery) shopping complex in Poznań was named the best medium-sized shopping mall in the world for the year 2005 by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). The judges' verdict praised its architecture and atmosphere, as well as events organized inside the mall.

Stary Browar, a place where business, art and trade meet, was opened in November 2003. The complex was established by Fortis, which was founded specifically for the project in 1998, with Grażyna Kulczyk, former wife of tycoon Jan Kulczyk, as its only shareholder. It cost $60 (zł.187.4) million to build.

"The real-estate market in Poznań is developing very rapidly," said Rafał Przybył, CEO of Fortis. "The standard that has been set by Stary Browar will be very difficult to achieve by any new developments. Building Stary Browar has influenced how the city is perceived, it was the beginning of the revitalization process of the whole of Poznań's downtown."

The history of the site dates back to 1876, when the Hugger brothers built an ice factory and an apartment house. The buildings changed hands many times over the years and were put to a variety of uses, until 1998 when Fortis purchased the run-down old factory.

Stary Browar's retail space consists of two buildings amounting to 30,300 sqm and it is home to 95 Polish and international retail outlets. Customers can also enjoy first-class dining in the numerous bars and restaurants. An extension currently under construction and due for completion in the first quarter of 2007 will increase the number of shops to 205 and the total retail space to 57,440 sqm.

The mall's Arts Courtyard regularly hosts art exhibitions as well as music, theater, film and dance events. The 12,785-sqm center shows movies and holds concerts twice a month.

The top floor of Stary Browar is devoted to offices. Tenants include BRE Bank, Fortis and Conecto.