“Galerija Centrs” is the first and so far the only shopping centre in Latvia to have received the prestigious European Shopping Centre Award from the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC).

In 2008, “Galerija Centrs” won second place in the category “Renovation or Expansion of Existing Project” and received a letter of commendation. Along with the commendation, “Galerija Centrs” has been included among the leading European development projects recommended for visiting and learning from by other professionals in the field. The award is a testament to “Linstow Centre Management” as a leading international real estate developer and is proof of Riga as an environment that fosters business, where progressive and demanding urban-planning and urban-renewal projects can be carried out. 

Nominated for the European Shopping Centre Award in 2008 were 34 of the best shopping centre development projects from 11 European countries implemented from 2005 to 2006. They were divided into two categories: “New development projects” and “Renovation or Expansion”. In the finals, “Galerija Centrs” competed with shopping centres from Germany, Spain, Switzerland and Poland. First place in the category “Renovation or Expansion” was awarded to the “Stary Browar” shopping centre in Poznan, Poland.

The European Shopping Centre Award was established in 1975. It is presented annually in Amsterdam. This award is the highest and most prestigious award for commercial development and is a mark of quality among both new and reconstructed shopping centres throughout Europe.

All projects submitted by participants are judged by an international jury both on the basis of documents submitted as well as on the spot. The jury consists of professionals from all sectors related to the shopping centre industry, providing for an objective and thorough assessment of each criterion. Judgment criteria are shopping centre design, composition of tenants, the project’s commercial results, novelties introduced and how well the project has managed to integrate the surrounding environment and infrastructure.

Any shopping centre developer may submit its projects for this award.

SIA “Linstow Center Management”, the “Galactico” shopping centre developer and real estate operator, has already been operating in Latvia for 19 years. Total floor space of shopping centres managed by LCM in Latvia amounts to over 230,000 m2 and 329,000 m2 in all Baltic countries. LCM is also the operator of “Ülemiste” the largest shopping centre in Estonia, which received the European shopping centre prize in 2016, winning in the category for large expanded shopping centers.