The Centaurus

The Centaurus
سَینٹورس
The Centaurus
General information
Status	Completed
Type	Hotel mall residential corporate
Address	One Jinnah Avenue, Sector F-8, Islamabad-44220, Pakistan
Coordinates	33°42′28″N73°03′00″E / 33.7077°N 73.0499°E / 33.7077; 73.0499
Current tenants	Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts
Construction started	2006
Completed	2015
Opening	17 February 2013
Cost	PKR 15 billion
Owner	Sardar Tanveer Ilyas and Sardar Yasir Ilyas
Technical details
Floor count	26 [1]
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Atkins
Developer	Pak Gulf Construction, Al Mahad Group of Companies (Saudi Arabia) and Sardar Builders
Other information
Number of rooms	500
Public transit access	PIMS Metrobus Station
Website
thecentaurusmall.com/index.php

The Centaurus is a mixed use real estate development in the city of Islamabad, Pakistan. The project includes a 26-floor hotel, three 22-floor residential and office towers, and a four-floor shopping mall. ^[2]

Construction

Designed by British architectural firm WS Atkins, it consists of a four-story shopping mall, a five-star hotel, two residential towers, a corporate tower, three skyscrapers containing corporate offices, residential apartments, and a hotel. ^{[3] [4]} Centaurus Mövenpick Hotel is under construction and was expected to open in the first quarter of 2018. ^[5] In 2021 it was expected to open in late 2022. ^[6]

The estimated cost for building the complex was US$5 million. ^[7] The Centaurus Mall has four levels and comprises more than 250 shops. ^{[8] [9]}

Entertainment

The Centaurus Mall entertains in the form of a play area for children, known as "Fun City", ^[10] and a cineplex, ^[11] which shows recently-released Lollywood and Hollywood movies.

Food court

The food court offers several local as well as international fast food chains. ^[12]

Entry fee controversy

In what it called a move to avoid ‘over-crowding’, Centaurus Mall in a public notice said visitors will have to buy a coupon to enter the mall, which is adjustable against shopping at the mall on the same day. The public notice listed 23 types of people who will not have to purchase the entry coupons. Those exempted include all women and children under 12, senior citizens, lawmakers and executives, diplomats and foreigners, journalists, and lawyers, members of country clubs, registered engineers, doctors, and teachers. Further, the notice said, “famous players of hockey, cricket, football and golf” and “celebrities” do not have to purchase the entry coupon. ^[13]

October 2022 fire

The shopping center at the Centaurus Mall caught fire on 9 October 2022. The Capital Development Authority claimed the fire to be under control after two hours of response. The shopping center and nearby residential structures were closed for an audit to be made on their structural integrity. ^{[14] [15] [16]}

The fire broke out in the Monal restaurant and was reported around 4 pm. ^[17] The efforts of firefighters extinguished the fire preventing extensive damage to the interior. Navy and Air Force personnel also took part in cooling the building. ^{[18] [19] [20]}

See also

• List of tallest buildings in Islamabad

References

1. "The Centaurus". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
2. "Eastern Star". Atkinsglobal.com. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
3. Pereira, Nikhil. "Movenpick Hotels set to expand Pakistan operations | HotelierMiddleEast.com". HotelierMiddleEast.com. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
4. Tore, Iuliia (9 October 2015). "Mövenpick Hotel Centaurus Islamabad to open in 2018". Rustourismnews.com. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
5. "Federal capital to have Movenpick Hotel". Thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
6. Hill, Lauren Jade (23 May 2021). "Project in focus: Mövenpick Hotel Centaurus Islamabad". THP News. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
7. Ali Teepu, Imran (14 September 2010). "Centaurus Tower faces uncertain future". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 26 November 2011.
8. "Centaurus soft launch: City's first 'authentic' shopping mall opens its doors". The Express Tribune. 17 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
9. "The Centaurus Mall". thecentaurusmall.com. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
10. "The Centaurus Mall". thecentaurusmall.com. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
11. "ME Cinemas". mecinemas.com. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
12. "Chefling Tales Guide to Eating at Centaurus Food Court, Islamabad. | Chefling Tales". cheflingtales.com. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
13. "Islamabad's Centaurus Mall starts charging Rs100 entry fee, but only from a select few". The Express Tribune . 4 July 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
14. "Centaurus Mall fire: Large blaze at Islamabad mall put out". BBC News. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
15. "Massive fire breaks out at Centaurus Mall in Pakistan's Islamabad | Videos". Hindustan Times. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
16. "Islamabad's Centaurus Mall fire brought under control". The Express Tribune. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
17. "major fire erupts at crowded shopping mall in pakistans islamabad". Gulf news. 9 October 2022.
18. Qarar, Shakeel (9 October 2022). "Fire in Islamabad's Centaurus Mall 'under control': CDA". Dawn.com. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
19. "Islamabad's Centaurus Mall fire brought under control". The Express Tribune. 9 October 2022.
20. "Islamabad's Centaurus Mall fire brought under control". Dunya News. 9 October 2022.

External links

• Official website