Echo Investment has obtained a building permit for the construction of Galeria Libero, which is to be built on Kościuszki Street in the southern part of Katowice. The investor also concluded a contract with the city authorities concerning the road layout around the facility.

"We are starting the construction of Galeria Libero. Work related to the preparation of the building site and the demolition of existing facilities is to start in July. We have recently signed an agreement with authorities of Katowice, which will make it possible to redevelop the road layout. The new road solution will considerably streamline the traffic in this part of the city as well as provide easy access to the shopping centre. Most importantly the capacity of the crossroads will be increased. Additional lanes in each direction, a grade-separated crossing with Kościuszki Street for the vehicles going towards the city centre will considerable improve traffic parameters. We are also planning the construction of pavements and new cycle paths along the entire redeveloped area," says Mariusz Szatański, project manager in Echo Investment"s Shopping Centre Department. “We are launching the construction process but we are still working on the details of the project. We want our facility to be customer-friendly and offer a sense of comfort. The convenient road solution which is to be developed thanks to successful cooperation with the city of Katowice is one of the most important factors which will impact the perception of the shopping centre by customers. We want to create a place which will enable customers to spend their time actively and creatively. A place which will be a response to residents" needs and will transform in accordance with changing trends. A high standard and the novelty effect are not sufficient nowadays as far as satisfying customers" expectations is concerned. Thus such great emphasis on convenience, functionality and aesthetics. That is why we decided to introduce a significantly broader gastronomy, entertainment and sports offer compared to our competition. The offer of Libero does not just include popular chain tenants but also local, proven and trustworthy concepts. It also includes new formulas such as the "Food & Ball" social pub of Arek Milik, which offers sport excitement as well a modern culinary approach,” says Marcin Materny, director of Echo Investment"s Shopping Centre Department. Advanced commercialization process is in progress. Contracts have already been signed with Alma Market, which is to open delicatessen with an area of nearly 1,900 sqm in Libero. Media Markt, the leader of the electronics market, promises an outlet with a completely new interior design. Echo Investment, the developer of Galeria Libero, is planning to create the largest entertainment and sports offer in the region. The company has already signed contracts with the Helios cinema operator as well as Fabryka Formy – a chain of fitness clubs. Libero will also include the "Food & Ball" sport pub – a new concept of Arkadiusz Milik, a representative of the Polish football who plays for Ajax Amsterdam. Tenants also include the Apteka Europejska chain of pharmacies which is very popular in Silesia as well as the Lancerto chain of outlets offering men"s fashion. Advanced negotiations concerning sports-, education- and entertainment-related concepts are in progress.
Galeria Libero is to be developed on ul. Tadeusza Kościuszki – one of the most important traffic routes in the city, on a plot with an area of 54,000 sqm. The facility will offer a retail and entertainment area of 42,000 sqm which will be located on three floors. Apart from shops and service outlets as well as some of the most important chains and a supermarket, the shopping centre will also include a very extensive entertainment and gastronomy offer which will consist of a 8-screen cinema, a snooker club, a play area for children, squash and badminton courts, restaurants offering access to a terrace. The company is planning to create the broadest entertainment and sports offer in the region. It has already signed contracts with the Helios chain, which is to open an 8-screen modern cinema in Galeria Libero, and the Fabryka Formy fitness club. Advanced negotiations concerning concepts related to sport, education and entertainment for the younger audience are in progress. The MOFO Architekci architectural studio is the author of the design of Galeria Libero. www.galerialibero.pl