U.P. Town Center

The University of the Philippines Town Center, commonly known as the U.P. Town Center and abbreviated as UPTC, is a shopping center in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, managed by the Ayala Malls group. It opened on September 30, 2013.

U.P. Town Center
U.P. Town Center logo
LocationQuezon City, Philippines
Coordinates14.651°N 121.075°E / 14.651; 121.075
AddressKatipunan Avenue, Brgy. U.P. Campus, Diliman
Opening dateSeptember 30, 2013 (2013-09-30)
DeveloperAyala Land
ManagementAyala Malls
ArchitectBenoy
Total retail floor area174,000 square meters (1,870,000 sq ft)
No. of floorsPhase 1: 2
Phase 1A: 3
Phase 2: 3
Public transit accessMetro interchange Katipunan
Bus interchange  19  UP Town Center

Development

Ayala Land secured a 25-year lease contract[1] with the University of the Philippines to develop the 7.4 ha (18 acres) lot which is part of the university's campus to build a shopping mall complex. The lot was the former location of the U.P. Integrated School under the University of the Philippines Diliman. The trees already in the lot were not cut down and 40 percent of the land are designated for open space.[2]

The U.P. Town Center has three phases. The first phase is primarily for restaurants and retail stores, which covers 4,700 square meters (51,000 sq ft). It also hosts a 2-level Timezone arcade. The second phase containing more retail and dining outlets covering a 26,000 square meters (280,000 sq ft) floor plan that was completed by May 2015. The third and last phase which would cover 37,000 square meters (400,000 sq ft) was completed in 2016, containing four cinemas, including one 4DX cinema,[3] offices as well as more retail stores and restaurants, including a 2-storey H&M store.[2]

Architecture

The architectural design and master planning of the U.P. Town Center was done by international architectural firm Benoy.[4]

Facilities and tenants

The U.P. Town Center is marketed as the "first and only university town center" in the Philippines primarily targeting students from universities and other educational institutions along Katipunan Avenue such as the University of the Philippines Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, and Miriam College.[2]

Initially, shortly after the first phase of the complex was opened, most of the tenants were restaurants and other dining outlets. In November 2013, there were 30 tenants with 28 of them being dining outlets and only two being retail stores. By this time, Ayala Malls were reportedly prioritizing new restaurant and dining brands over popular fast-food chains and restaurants since many of these brands already have outlets along Katipunan Avenue.[5]

Upon the completion of the second phase, numerous retail brands primarily selling fashion, sports, tech, and stationery goods or services targeting millennials opened stores at the U.P. Town Center.[2]

U.P. Town Center also has a supermarket named Merkado Supermarket. It is a 50-50 joint venture between Ayala and Puregold and the outlet in the shopping complex is the first outlet under the brand name.[6]

References
  1. Aquino, Tricia; Montealegre, Krista Angela (November 3, 2013). "3 hurt as ceiling collapses at UP Town Center". InterAksyon.com. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  2. Cabatit-Alegre, Julie (May 23, 2015). "UP Town Center rises". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  3. Tantuco, Vernice (July 16, 2016). "IN PHOTOS: Inside the new UP Town Center 4DX cinema". Rappler. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  4. "UP Town Center". Benoy. Benoy Limited. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  5. Baga-Reyes, Vangie (November 28, 2013). "New dining hub rises in Katipunan, QC". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  6. "Ayala, Puregold launch supermarket in UP Town Center". Rappler. July 27, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
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