On Monday, 29th of september, in a festive ceremony, ECE Polska and the mayor of the Polish city of Bydgoszcz, Rafał Bruski, laid the foundation stone for Zielone Arkady shopping center in Bydgoszcz. It is the largest project of ECE Polska to date and the biggest shopping center in the capital of the Polish voivodship of Kujawy-Pomerania.

After its opening in fall 2015, the center will provide 200 shops and restaurants on three levels on an overall leasable area of approx. 51,000 m². Furthermore, Zielone Arkady will create about 1,500 new jobs. ECE/ the Otto family are the investors of the 150 million euro project. The company will also take over the long-term operation and leasing of the center via its subsidiary ECE Polska.

The 544,000 inhabitants in the catchment area can reach Zielone Arkady conveniently. It is located at two arterial roads, buses and trams stop adjacent to the center. Approximately 1,200 parking spaces will be available in the nearby parking garage to visitors arriving by car. Zielone Arkady will also be conveniently reachable on foot: It is only a five-minute walk from the historic city center of Bydgoszcz to the shopping gallery.

The most prominent architectural feature will be the west entrance of Zielone Arkady. Visitors will enter the building through an entrance hall which is almost 30 meter in height and is shaped like a rising crystal. The light-flooded food court is located in the interior of the building element, which is dominated by large glass elements. It will provide more than 400 seats for visitors who will be able to choose from approximately ten restaurants.