Construction activities on SmartCity Malta’s lagoon district are swiftly moving ahead, the company said yesterday. Scheduled for completion by end of the year, this area of the Ricasoli project will be the development’s centre-piece.

A site-wide rainwater harvesting tank will also be constructed underneath the basin structure, designed to collect the entire development’s storm water run-off from roads and landscaped areas.

The harvested rainwater will be recycled and used for firefighting, irrigation and waste-water flushing purposes within and beyond built structures.

The excavation phase has been completed and reinforced structural works will begin soon, SmartCity said.

Meanwhile, the construction of blocks SCM02, SCM03, SCM04 and SCM05 are nearing structural completion. Works on SCM02 and SCM03 – both multi-storey office buildings – have reached the last floor. The superstructure of the retail buildings SCM04 and SCM05, collectively forming three storeys of retail and food and beverage outlets, is also nearing completion.

The erection of the building façades, interior finishing and the installation of building services are expected to start imminently as soon as the contractors are appointed. Once completed, Phase 2 buildings will add 18,000 square metres of mixed-use office and commercial space to SmartCity Malta.

Last month SmartCity made a direct investment of €35 million in the Malta project, which now brings up the company’s capital by €66 million con-firming the company’s commitment to the Malta project.