Via KH City Govt/KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Taiwan Mitsui Fudosan (台灣三井不動產) on Thursday held a “topping-out ceremony” for its planned Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport development in Fengshan District (鳳山區), marking a major milestone in what will become the company’s third LaLaport shopping complex in Taiwan.
A topping-out ceremony is a traditional construction milestone marking the moment when a building’s main structural framework is completed, usually when the highest beam or slab is put in place.
The project, located east of the Weiwuying National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (衛武營國家藝術文化中心), represents an investment of more than NT$10 billion. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) attended the ceremony alongside Taiwan Mitsui Fudosan Chairman Yasuhiro Kuichi (久一康洋) and other guests.
Chen said Fengshan, founded 237 years ago and home to more than 350,000 residents, is Kaohsiung’s most populous district but has long lacked a large-scale department store. He said the LaLaport project addresses a long-standing expectation among residents. Chen said the city will continue promoting redevelopment in central Fengshan, improving transportation links and the surrounding environment to ensure the project is completed on schedule.
Mitsui’s Kuichi thanked the Kaohsiung City Government for its support, noting that construction has progressed steadily since ground was broken in 2023. He said the Kaohsiung LaLaport project is planned to house approximately 270 retail outlets, combining international brands with local offerings.
According to project plans, LaLaport Kaohsiung will consist of seven above-ground floors and two basement levels, with a total floor area of approximately 62,000 ping. The design concept, described as “Urban Green Nest,” integrates retail, dining, and cultural spaces.
The site is adjacent to the Kaohsiung MRT Orange Line Fengshan West Station (鳳山西站) and the future Yellow Line Y18 Station, giving it access to two rapid transit lines.
