By Juliana Chloe A. Gonzales
AYALA LAND, Inc.鈥檚 retail arm Ayala Malls said ongoing renovations at TriNoma are aimed at repositioning the mall as a 鈥渢hird space鈥 connecting retail, offices, and transit systems as shopping behavior continues to evolve.
The company said the shift reflects broader changes in consumer behavior following the growth of e-commerce and online retail during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 always been our goal, it鈥檚 about third spaces. If you鈥檝e been to our new development in Arca South as well, people say, well, you鈥檝e built it far too early; the people don鈥檛 live here yet. But if we鈥檙e not going to catalyze the change in people鈥檚 behaviors and how they live, then nobody is,鈥 Paul Birkett, chief operating officer of Ayala Malls, said during a media briefing on May 16.
He said malls had traditionally operated under a more transactional model when TriNoma first opened nearly two decades ago.
鈥淚 think that the market 20 years ago was transactional, and I guess the market was still quite transactional five years ago, six years ago. But COVID really stimulated the way that online retail happened, and online retail is really the transactional need,鈥 he said.
The renovation project includes an expanded tenant mix, with brands such as JD Sports, Love Bonito, and Victoria鈥檚 Secret opening stores at the mall this year.
Ayala Malls said the redevelopment also seeks to address shifting demographics among TriNoma鈥檚 customer base over the past 20 years.
鈥淲hen this mall was built 20 years ago, it was targeting a certain type of customer. In those 20 years, those customers have had children and they鈥檝e grown. People who were teenagers have now moved on to have a job,鈥 Mr. Birkett said.
鈥淚 guess one of the challenges we face is how you make that the regular people who were here 20 years ago still get the rights that they need. Their kids get the rights that they need. And the future kids will get the rights,鈥 he added.
Under the planned 鈥渢hird space鈥 concept, TriNoma will integrate access to major transport systems, including Light Rail Transit Lines 1 (LRT-1) and 2, Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), and the future MRT-7.
鈥淚t brings together transit connectivity with retail and offices in a single integrated environment. And the expansion is actually going to connect MRT-3, MRT-7, and LRT-1 鈥 making TriNoma the only avenue you see within all three lines,鈥 Mr. Birkett said.
鈥淚t also includes a more connected transport hub, more parking, its own mix of dining, retail, offices, healthcare, and pharmacy. It鈥檚 all designed with the commuter in mind to make daily journeys simpler and more seamless,鈥 he added.
During Ayala Land鈥檚 annual stockholders鈥 meeting, the property developer said it plans to add more than 200,000 square meters of new retail space this year, with renovation projects underway at TriNoma, Ayala Center Cebu, Glorietta, and Greenbelt 2.
