Surprisingly, the concept came about when the developers noticed that a number of motorists were frequenting a gasoline service station in the area not just to load-up on gas but also to have snacks, making it a popular meeting and hangout place. Owners of a local fast food chain also noticed this and proposed to establish a stand-alone restaurant beside the gasoline station.
This prompted the developers to conduct a feasibility study of the area, which could be leased to tenants to put up commercial establishments within the prime lot. Thus, the birth of the Westgate Center master plan. Tapping the services of Australian-based architectural firm, Davenport Campbell, and US-based WV Mason Architects, the developers put together a plan patterned after open-lot development models in the US, particularly in the West Coast. It focused on a lot of landscaped greens and open-air streetscapes that people could enjoy while strolling around its environs. Filinvest Alabang Inc.’s Business Development Group for Commercial Centers, on the other hand, took charge of establishing the conceptual design checklist, the business plan and the proposed tenant mix and facilities.
Westgate Center’s concept gives equal importance to the development of the whole area where tenants get equal opportunity to profit from their operations. This idea, according to the developers, is to prevent locators from scrambling to get corner or front spots for their stores where business is brisker.
"The nature of Westgate Center’s master-planned development lies in the synthesis of maximizing the land-use allocation of the 9.5-hectare block and creating a perfect mix of retail, dining and entertainment areas," said Anton Hechanova, Westgate Center’s senior manager for business development.
Unlike other lifestyle centers that come to life only in the evenings, Westgate is a day-to-night scene that promises a complete and well-rounded shopping experience during the day and a perfect setting for alfresco dining and other entertainment activities at night.
Complementing Filinvest Corporate City’s upscale setting that has plenty of treelined boulevards, Westgate Center’s architectural design provides the convenience of drive-up retail outlets in an open-air streetscape and park-like environment. The center also gives its market and breather from the traditional "boxed in" shopping center and mall development with its new concept of "speciality themed commercial center".
Four distinct zones make up this commercial center with its own cluster of specialty shops. The Home Precinct gatheres a mix of home furnishing and furniture showrooms as well as specialty food, restaurants and health fitness centers. Some of the establishments now occupying space at the Home Precinct are Orientique Furniture and Furnishing Store, Fitness First, East West Bank and soon-to-open Arirang-Wonjo Korean Restaurant and Country Waffles. Retail-giant PriceSmart stands as landmark of the Hypermart Precinct.