German retail specialist ECE Projektmanagement said on Wednesday that it has started the construction of its flagship Skyline Plaza shopping and leisure centre in Frankfurt's Europaviertel (European Quarter).

The scheme involves an investment of EUR 360 mln and is a joint venture between ECE and CA Immo's Vivico unit. It will include 38,000 m2 of retail space across 180 specialist shops, cafés, restaurants and service companies as well as a congress centre with capacity for up to 2,400 people. There will be 2,400 parking spaces.

Negotiations are currently underway with Messe Frankfurt for the management and purchase of the congress element of the complex, ECE added.

Designed by architects Jourdan & Müller, Skyline Plaza is being developed on the site of the former main railway freight depot and is part of the major Europaviertel city-centre regeneration project to the west of Frankfurt. By 2019, the area will be transformed into a new district full of offices, hotels and flats with a multitude of shopping and leisure possibilities.

Skyline Plaza was awarded the gold pre-certificate by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). The scheme, to be managed by ECE, is due to open in fall 2013.