The name of SM Aura Premier derived from the two elements gold and radium. According to SM Prime Holdings, Inc., the name defines “luxury and elegance that emanates from within.”
History
The mall had its inaugural blessing on May 16, 2013; a day before the grand opening. Numerous celebrities, government officials including Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, company officials, and VIP guests graced the blessing, including SM Prime's Henry Sy and Hans Sy. Hollywood celebrity Sarah Jessica Parker also graced the blessing. She also cut the ribbon for The SM Store, as well as being the newest endorser for their "Love to Shop" campaign.
Mall Features
The development includes the Skypark, a multi-level green roof. It has al fresco bars & restaurants, sculptures and botanical gardens, a 1,000-seat performance hall called Samsung Hall and the 250-seat Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod. Designed by Miami-based architectural firm Arquitectonica, the structure will be a basic “dumbbell” arrangement determined by the narrow site, with the main entry at the north corner, and the office tower located at the southern end. The main vehicular drop-off is provided on the western side, with taxi stations on the first basement, accessed from the lower, eastern road. The high-end mall consists high-end and international fashion brands such as Stuart Weitzman, Joseph, Calvin Klein, Bershka, Stradivarius, Uniqlo, Forever 21, Topman, and Topshop. Other tenants include Crate & Barrel, Ramen Nagi, Todd EnglishFood Hall Manila, and Fitness First Platinum. It also featured two regular cinemas equipped with Dolby Atmos sound system, two Director's Club Cinemas, and an IMAX digital theater at the fourth floor. It also features an SMX Convention Center at the third and fourth floors.
The mall is connected to a 29-story office tower which has an area of. The SM Aura Office Tower is built according to international green standards, with efficient use of energy and sustainable operation features. The Office Tower is also home to one of the largest serviced offices in the Philippines, with 400 seats in a office space. As part of Bonifacio Civic Center, the tower also houses several government offices such as Social Security System, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG Fund, Philippine Postal Corporation, and Taguig City local government. The Aura Tower also houses corporate offices such as Uber, Lixil Philippines, Cisco, Regent Foods Corp., and Ezaki Glico International.
Awards and recognition
SM Aura Premier is also the first and sole mall to be certified Gold under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for its green features in the retail sector in the Philippines. The LEED Certification is an internationally recognized standard awarded to institutions that follow the strict regulations governing green architecture and construction. It is a citation awarded to a distinct few by the US Green Building Council.
Controversies
There is a legal battle between the Bases Conversion Development Authority and the SM Aura Premier. The Bases Conversion and Development Authority, in a statement, refuted the claim of SM Prime Holdings Inc. that the controversial SM Aura mall in Taguig City was legally built based on a deed of conveyance between the local government and BCDA. During his term, former Taguig Mayor Sigfrido Tiñga initially went into discussions with the Ayala Group on the use of land. However, the discussions on land use was carried over to the term of his successor, Lani Cayetano.
