21 October 2020

Reopening of the Perry Center in Oftringen

This week sees the official reopening of the modernised and extended Perry Center, marking the end of around two and a half years of construction work. As well as adapting the retail, service and catering facilities, the work at this well-known, popular shopping centre included building a modern 80-room hotel. Today, the Perry Center offers a new urban shopping experience in the Aargau/Solothurn region. 
 
To protect customers and tenants during the ongoing pandemic, the Perry Center in Oftringen has decided not to hold a large celebration to mark its reopening. Instead, during the reopening and the following days, the centre’s brand-new look will be complemented by stunning autumn decorations. Moreover, to spread out customers, the centre will be open for Sunday shopping from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on 25 October. 
 
An enjoyable shopping experience 
The bright and airy store space, the extended range of products and services offered by more than 40 shops, and a children’s play area are not the only features designed to make visiting the modernised Perry Center an enjoyable experience from start to finish. To take the stress out of the journey, there is now a new left-hand turn for direct access to the centre for visitors coming from Rothrist. Following completion of the refurbishment work, the outside of the Perry Center also sports a new look: with its distinctive, 15-metre high illuminated façade made up of vertical panels, the shopping mall appears to be the same height as the newly opened Holiday Inn Express hotel. The thin vertical panels include a total of 2,600 metres of low-energy LED strips and are particularly striking at night when they are lit up in different colours. Guests from the new hotel can walk to the shops and restaurants in the centre under a large canopy roof.
 
A logistical tour de force
The developer engaged Steiner AG as the total (design-and-build) contractor for this project. As a leading real estate developer and total/general contractor, Steiner AG has already undertaken many visionary projects throughout Switzerland. The entire refurbishment was carried out without closing the Perry Center, so the planning, execution and logistics proved very challenging for Steiner, the developer and all subcontractors right from the beginning. For example, visitor flows had to be properly controlled during the construction phase, and existing tenants had to be relocated within the centre. 
 
For the centre's manager, Ruedi Bügler, it was very important for the Perry Center to remain open throughout the extensive refurbishment phase: “Of course it would have been easier to close down the Perry Center so it could be demolished and rebuilt. Financially, that would also have made quite a difference.” However, that was never an option. In Ruedi Bügler's opinion, it would not have been fair to the centre’s loyal and long-standing tenants and customers. Jerôme Feledziak, the overall project manager at Steiner AG, attributes the fact that this challenging project was completed on schedule and within budget, without any major incidents, to the good collaboration with the developer. “Thanks to our regular and constructive dialogue, any difficulties that arose during the construction phase were resolved quickly and easily, to the complete satisfaction of the centre manager and customers.” 
 
Focus on customer needs
The Coop Megastore, which opened on 13 August, has now been complemented by the opening of a Coop Building & Hobby store. This is connected to the food store, giving customers direct access from the DIY section to everyday consumer goods – and vice versa. The reopening of the Perry Center also includes three attractive new tenants: Müller, Blackout and Street One. The children’s play area is now five times larger, covering an area of 250 square metres, and has been renamed Perry Burg – a reference to the castle in Aarburg. The gallery level, where the play area is located, also includes state-of-the-art toilets as well as baby changing and feeding facilities. The Diamond Nails manicure salon and a tailor are also located on this level. 
 
Perry Center says thank you
The developer would like to thank all construction workers, architects, planners and everyone else involved in the successful refurbishment of the Perry Center, which has now been completed. The remaining final adjustments and finishing touches are to be carried out by February 2021. 
 
Steiner AG
Steiner AG, one of the leading project developers and general/total contractors (GC/TC) in Switzerland, offers comprehensive services in the fields of new construction, refurbishment and real estate development. The company, which was established in 1915, has constructed more than 1,500 residential projects, 540 commercial properties, 45 hotels and 200 infrastructure facilities such as universities, schools, hospitals, retirement homes and prisons. Steiner AG has its headquarters in Zurich and is represented by branches in Basel, Bern, Geneva, Tolochenaz and Lucerne.
 
Information for the media
Perry Center, Mr Ruedi Bügler
Tel.: +41 62 787 78 78, ruedi.buegleranti spam bot@perry-centeranti spam bot.ch 
 
Steiner AG, Corporate Communications
Tel.: +41 58 445 20 00, corpcom@steiner.ch 
 
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