Pedro S. Rodrigues wrote

Very interesting article… But I was wondering while reading it… At what price comes having “convertible” shopping centres? I know (by experience) it can mean having more GLA and therefore between having a project approved or not having for economical (IRR) reasons that do not fully take into account operating costs… Having retractable roofs mean not only more initial cost on equipment, but especially on maintenance and energy for HVAC…! At least that’s what I’m being told it happens with our projects in Greece! Or is just that these are not good examples of the right thing to do?

I was surprised by the following sentence, in the article “retractable roofs fit well with projects designed to conform to environmental standards such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program, as City Creek Center does. “If City Creek were enclosed, you would be air-conditioning the project for nine months out of the year,” Laegreid said. “Instead, it will be open-air for those nine months.” This brings cost savings that will, over time, help to offset at least the upfront and maintenance expenses associated with the roof, he says.” Can that be true??? It isn’t at all what I’m told our experience shows!