Works to upgrade the Trafford Centre's main dome are now complete, and shoppers can once again use the central escalators at the heart of the shopping mall. Bosses had completely stripped out the old escalators back in June as part of an ongoing upgrade across the centre.
Eco-Friendly Escalators
The new-style escalators are more eco-friendly as bosses aim to reduce carbon emissions across the site. The upgrades to the mall's most-used escalators were first confirmed in June by the Trafford Centre, which said at the time that the works were part of a wider refurbishment of all escalators across the mall.
It saw major building works taking place at the heart of the centre, which is traditionally one of the most photographed spaces due to the spectacular Graeco-Roman style architecture in the round dome. Visitors were guided to use the adjacent lifts instead of the escalators while works were underway.
Bosses said at the time: "The iconic main dome is having a full set of new escalators following the installation of 6 new escalators in The Orient this year. These new units are part of a programme to replace and refurbish 9 escalators and 13 lifts this year."
They added: "As part of our drive to reduce carbon emissions and drive down energy consumption, the new units are eco efficient and achieve high energy ratings by utilising smart invertors, regenerative drives and standby speed operators - all of these features reduce energy consumption by an impressive 40%."
Key Features and Energy Savings
Key features of the new escalators include an automatic slow down or stop function when no passengers are detected on them. Bosses say this will save up to 40% in energy compared to continuous operation. They will also have LED lighting on the steps and skirting, which is up to 80% more efficient than traditional fluorescent light.
Bosses added: "We thank our visitors for their patience and promise it'll be worth the wait."
Odeon Cinema Refurbishment
The refurbishment comes as the Trafford Centre's Odeon Cinema, also in the main dome, has announced its own upgrade is now complete. The cinema has had a major refurbishment of its seating, with 677 new armchair options including gliders, which partially recline, and reupholstered comfier seats.
The new look at the Odeon cinema has taken place across 12 screens at the cinema complex, on the opposite side to The Orient. Guests can now choose between two new premier seating experiences when booking. As the new seating is not in screens 1-6, it is worth checking when booking if the gliders are available on the film screen you are heading to.
Cat Moore, Cinema Manager at ODEON Manchester Trafford Centre, said: "This summer's film slate has something for everyone, and we're delighted that guests can now enjoy it from the comfort of our brand-new armchairs and gliders."
She added: "From family adventures to the latest blockbusters, these new seating options give our guests even more choice and comfort every time they visit ODEON Manchester Trafford Centre."
Upcoming Openings
The upgraded works at The Dome come amid a host of new openings planned in the months ahead at the Trafford Centre. New shops on the way include a big new Uniqlo lifestyle store, Dave's Hot Chicken inside the Great Hall, fitness store Garage and toy shop Entertainer, all set to open before the end of the year.
