Power Plant Mall
An upscale indoor shopping mall and mixed-use development anchor in Makati City, Philippines.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Power Plant Mall is an upscale indoor shopping mall in Rockwell Center, a mixed-use district in Makati City, Metro Manila. Developed and managed by Rockwell Land Corporation, a subsidiary of Lopez Holdings Corporation, the mall is the principal retail anchor of the Rockwell community on the Pasig River waterfront, north of Makati's central business district and across the river from Mandaluyong. Its location places it within a larger master-planned environment combining luxury residences, offices, dining, cultural and event spaces, and pedestrian links. The mall occupies the former site of the Rockwell Thermal Plant, a 130-megawatt facility operated by the Lopez-led Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company. The plant was named after James Rockwell, the company's first president. It operated from 1950 until a fire on December 14, 1973. After opposition from Makati residents to proposals to reopen the facility, the plant was decommissioned in 1994. Its former industrial site was then repurposed as a modern commercial and residential district. Construction of the mall began in 1998, and Power Plant Mall opened on December 26, 2000. The five-storey original mall was designed by the Toronto-based architecture firm Design International. Its retail and leisure offer has been positioned toward affluent consumers and residents of the surrounding Rockwell developments. The complex includes luxury and premium fashion, accessories, watches, dining, entertainment, supermarket retail, services, and community facilities. Named tenants and brands have included Salvatore Ferragamo, Hackett London, Michael Kors, DKNY, Rolex, and J.Lindeberg. The Marketplace supermarket serves as a major everyday retail anchor, while Power Plant Cinema provides an eight-screen cinema operation. The Fifth at Rockwell functions as an events venue, and the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus provides a Roman Catholic worship space within the mall. The mall has also been integrated into the wider Rockwell pedestrian and real-estate network. It provides podium access to Balmori Suites and connects with Proscenium at Rockwell and Joya Lofts and Towers through the Proscenium–Rockwell Footbridge. Pedestrian access routes also connect it with the 8 Rockwell office building and residential towers including Rizal Tower, Hidalgo Place, and Edades Tower. Road access is available through Estrella Street, J. P. Rizal Avenue, and Kalayaan Avenue, while Guadalupe station is the nearest MRT station. Rockwell Land expanded the mall from 2014 onward by adding approximately 5,700 square meters of leasable space. The expansion increased the reported retail floor area from about 41,000 to approximately 46,700 square meters and added three levels, two VIP cinemas, and a larger chapel location. The ground and second levels of the extension opened in December 2017; Cinemas 7 and 8 opened in January 2018, when the new chapel was also dedicated. The expansion was associated with the Balmori Suites condominium project, which replaced a cancelled Aruga Hotel expansion. Rockwell Land has also announced plans to extend the Power Plant Mall brand beyond Metro Manila, with a proposed Power Plant Mall Angeles at Rockwell at Nepo Center in Angeles City and a later planned location in Rockwell Center Bacolod.
History
Power Plant Mall developed from the redevelopment of an industrial site into Rockwell Center, a mixed-use district in Makati City. The mall's name preserves the history of the former Rockwell Thermal Plant, a 130-megawatt power facility associated with the Lopez-led Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company. The plant was named for James Rockwell, the company's first president, and operated from 1950 until December 14, 1973, when it was damaged by fire. The facility was later considered for reopening, but Makati residents protested the proposal. In 1994, the plant was decommissioned, allowing its owners to pursue a broader transformation of the waterfront site. The resulting project combined retail, housing, offices, public and religious facilities, and pedestrian infrastructure. Power Plant Mall became the principal commercial component of this redevelopment. Construction began in 1998. Designed by Design International of Toronto, the five-storey mall opened on December 26, 2000. It was developed and managed by Rockwell Land Corporation, which operates as a subsidiary of Lopez Holdings Corporation. From its opening, the mall was intended as an upscale indoor destination rather than a purely utilitarian retail center. Its offer combined premium fashion and accessories with dining, cinema, supermarket retail, events, and services for residents and visitors to Rockwell Center. The mall's physical role expanded as Rockwell Center grew. Power Plant Mall became linked to residential and office properties through pedestrian routes, including connections to Joya Lofts and Towers, Proscenium at Rockwell, 8 Rockwell, Rizal Tower, Hidalgo Place, and Edades Tower. It also provided podium access to Balmori Suites. These links supported the mall's function as the central retail and leisure hub of a walkable mixed-use district. A significant expansion began in 2014. Rockwell Land added approximately 5,700 square meters of leasable space, increasing the reported retail floor area from about 41,000 to approximately 46,700 square meters. The project added three levels, two VIP cinemas, and a larger chapel. The first portions of the expansion opened in December 2017. Cinemas 7 and 8 opened on the third expansion level in January 2018, and the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was dedicated in its new fifth-level location. The chapel had originally opened on the mall's third level in 2006. The mall continues to combine premium retail with entertainment, food, events, worship, parking, and access to surrounding residences and offices. Rockwell Land has also outlined plans to expand the Power Plant Mall brand outside Metro Manila. A Power Plant Mall Angeles is planned within Rockwell at Nepo Center in Angeles City, with a further planned location at Rockwell Center Bacolod. The cited material gives target years for these projects but does not establish that either location has opened.
- 2018
Additional cinemas and relocated chapel open
[1]Cinemas 7 and 8 open in January, and the expanded chapel is dedicated on the fifth level.
- 2017
First expansion levels open
[1]The ground and second levels of the expansion open in December.
- 2014
Expansion project begins
[1]Rockwell Land begins adding approximately 5,700 square meters of leasable area and new entertainment and community facilities.
- 2006
Original mall chapel opens
[1]The Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus opens on the mall's third level.
- 2000
Power Plant Mall opens
[1]The mall opens to the public on December 26 as Rockwell Center's principal retail anchor.
- 1998
Mall construction begins
[1]Construction of Power Plant Mall begins as part of the Rockwell Center redevelopment.
- 1994
Plant site decommissioned for redevelopment
[1]Following opposition to reopening the facility, the power plant is decommissioned and the site is redirected toward commercial and mixed-use development.
- 1973
Thermal plant damaged by fire
[1]A fire on December 14, 1973 ends the operating history of the thermal plant.
- 1950
Rockwell Thermal Plant begins operation
[1]The 130-megawatt thermal plant on the future mall site begins operating under the Lopez-led Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company.
Planned Angeles expansion
[1]Rockwell Land plans a Power Plant Mall location at Rockwell at Nepo Center in Angeles City, subject to completion of the development.
Products and positioning
An upscale, lifestyle-oriented shopping and leisure destination serving affluent consumers, Rockwell residents, office users, and visitors in Metro Manila. Its differentiation comes from its premium tenant mix, indoor environment, cinema and dining offer, and integration with a high-end mixed-use community.
Fashion and accessories · 2000
Premium and luxury retail
The mall's premium retail mix includes international fashion, accessories, watches, and lifestyle brands. Named examples include Salvatore Ferragamo, Hackett London, Michael Kors, DKNY, Rolex, and J.Lindeberg. These tenants support the mall's upscale positioning and distinguish it from mass-market shopping centers.
Supermarket · 2000
The Marketplace
The Marketplace is the mall's supermarket anchor, providing everyday grocery and household shopping alongside the more discretionary luxury and lifestyle offer. Its presence gives Power Plant Mall a recurring convenience function for nearby residents and workers.
Entertainment · 2000
Power Plant Cinema
Power Plant Cinema is the mall's cinema operation. The original complex included eight screens, and the later expansion added two VIP cinemas and opened Cinemas 7 and 8 in January 2018. The cinema is a major leisure component of the mall's destination-based offer.
Food and beverage · 2000
Dining outlets
Power Plant Mall contains a range of dining outlets serving visitors, residents, and office users in Rockwell Center. Dining operates as part of the mall's broader lifestyle proposition, complementing shopping, cinema, events, and the surrounding mixed-use district.
Events and venues · 2000
The Fifth at Rockwell
The Fifth at Rockwell is an events hall within the mall. It extends the property beyond conventional retail by providing space for functions and gatherings associated with the Rockwell community and wider Metro Manila market.
Religious and community facility · 2006
Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Roman Catholic chapel located within the mall. It opened in 2006 and was later moved to a larger fifth-level site as part of the expansion, with the new chapel dedicated in January 2018.
Brand decisions
2014
Expand the mall's retail and leisure footprintStrategyBackground
Rockwell Land sought to expand Power Plant Mall within the growing Rockwell Center mixed-use district.
Action taken
The company added approximately 5,700 square meters of leasable space, three levels, two VIP cinemas, and a larger chapel site.
Aftermath
The expansion increased the reported retail floor area to approximately 46,700 square meters. Portions opened in December 2017, with additional cinemas and the relocated chapel opening in January 2018.
- Extend the Power Plant Mall brand beyond Metro ManilaStrategy
Background
Rockwell Land plans to replicate the Power Plant Mall format in other Philippine Rockwell developments.
Action taken
A Power Plant Mall Angeles is planned within Rockwell at Nepo Center in Angeles City, with a later planned location at Rockwell Center Bacolod.
Aftermath
The cited material identifies target years of 2027 for Angeles and 2029 for Bacolod, but does not confirm that either project has opened.
Sources2 sources
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