WESTSIDE CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY BY HITTING 4.2 MIL. VISITOR MARK

Bern, Switzerland [October 8, 2009] -- Westside Shopping and Leisure Centre, a major development designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, reported welcoming 4.2 million visitors and earning an impressive 180 million Swiss francs ($175 million USD) in the first year since its opening.

Westside Centre Director André Bagioli was thrilled with the news and said it was a “very strong result” for such a new location.  CEO Anton Gäumann was proud to announce that his first year goal of welcoming 3.5 million visitors was far exceeded by 700,000 visitors.  Gäumann still believes that Westside can improve on these visitor numbers, especially during the morning and weekday hours. 

In terms of sales, Westside’s impressive first year earnings of 180 million Swiss francs is a number which clearly demonstrates that visitors to the Centre are also shoppers.  In a year during which shoppers everywhere were stretched thin by the economy, this number is quite a feat.  Offering so much more than just shops – including a water park, movie theater, and spa – Westside proves that the melding of multi-functionality and contemporary architecture in a shopping environment is a successful combination.
 
ABOUT WESTSIDE
Westside is the largest building project in Switzerland and the first shopping center to be designed by Daniel Libeskind.  In addition to the 55 shops, 10 restaurants and bars, hotel, multiplex cinema, water park, wellness center and housing, this mixed-use program radically reinvents the concept of shopping, entertainment and living.  With its impressive location above the A1 autobahn, its direct connection to the S-Bahn urban railway and the BERNMOBIL transport network, Westside will become a meeting place for the whole greater region of Bern and provide a striking gateway to the city.

      CONTACT: Studio Daniel Libeskind: 
      Elizabeth McQuaid, Director of Public Relations
      T: +1 (212) 497-9168
      PublicRelations@daniel-libeskind.com