Susan Gordon, Staff Reporter
Nicola Madden-Greig - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER.
NEW KINGSTON landmark, the former Island Life Centre, is now in the final stages of a massive redevelopment, which is giving it a new name, a new face, new tenants and a new lease on life.
The 10-storey, step-pyramid-styled building was bought from Dennis Joslin Jamaica for a reported US$6.5 million. The redevelopment process began in January 2005, six months after the building was purchased by the Hendrickson family.
It should be completed by June this year says Nicola Madden-Greig, marketing director for Expedition Limited, the Hendrickson company which owns the building. By then, the building will have been renamed, but she declined to state what its new name will be.
The Kevin Hendrickson headed Expedition Limited has refurbished the core space for the Island Life Centre, making it into New Kingston's newest service and entertainment venue. The security features have also been greatly enhanced.
VARIOUS OPTIONS
"The concept is new to New Kingston in terms of a space offering various options," said Mrs. Madden-Greig. She explained that the focus was on the maintenance of the building last year and the company is now working on changing the appearance.
The building not only has a cinema, but two floors of retail mall space with food court, gym and bank. There is underground and terrace parking for 140 cars. The former Island Cinema is now called The Courtleigh Auditorium and is used as a multi-purpose centre and is in high demand.
The auditorium is being used to host corporate seminars, conferences, press launches, product launches, theatrical productions and even church meetings. It can accommodate up to 400 persons with two accompanying smaller meeting rooms having the capa-city to host an extra 100 persons.
"It will add a new dimension to New Kingston," said Mrs. Madden-Greig. "We are lacking meeting space in the corporate area and we have underground and roof parking to give flexibility for patrons," she added.
According to Mrs. Madden-Greig, the existing food court will be shifted to the ground floor and all of the second floor will be used for corporate office space. She said the food court would be easier to access it and pull in more foot traffic.
See 'business8' for associated story.
