CallisonRTKL appointed to re-calibrate CIFC’s original conceptual design

By Nishel Fernando
The United States-based global architecture, planning and design firm, CallisonRTKL has been appointed to re-calibrate the original conceptual design of US$1 billion Colombo International Finance Centre (CIFC) mixed-use development project at Colombo Port City.

“The original conceptual design, which was done by US-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is being re-looked at by CallisonRTKL. We hope to break ground of the first landmark development in the second half of the year,” CHEC Port City Private Limited Assistant Managing Director Thulci Aluwihare revealed. 

Further, he noted that a transitionary downtown duty-free office would also be ready before year’s end.The CIFC project is to be implemented in two phases with Phase I consisting of one international Grade A high-rise office tower, two high-end residential towers, and a retail podium with an investment of US$ 450 million occupying 6.8 acres of CPC.
The project company, CHEC Port City has pledged US$1 billion investment for the CIFC project. 

In December last year, Browns Investments, a strategic investment arm of the LOLC Group, entered into an agreement with the immediate parent of the project company, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) for the construction of phase one of CIFC mixed development project. 

The project is scheduled to be completed in 2023.

The phase two of the project would consist of two international Grade A high-rise office towers, and a retail podium with an investment of US$ 561 million occupying a land area of almost 10 acres in the CPC.

The CIFC is aimed to become the regional hub for international finance, offshore business, trade & logistics and IT, while providing a novel international and smart lifestyle to residents and visitors.