SM Lanang

SM Lanang is a four-story indoor shopping mall in the Lanang district of Davao City, Philippines. It was originally launched as SM Lanang Premier and was the first SM Supermall to use SM Prime Holdings' Premier branding. The Premier designation was later discontinued, and the property was renamed SM Lanang in 2023 as part of the wider rebranding of SM malls that no longer carried the Premier label. The mall occupies part of the former Lanang Golf and Country Club site along Jose P. Laurel Avenue and within the S.P. Dakudao loop. SM Prime Holdings acquired approximately 10 hectares of the larger property from Dakudao and Sons in 2008. The company identified northern Davao as an attractive location for a larger, more upscale retail and leisure development than its earlier Davao property, SM City Davao. Initial planning contemplated an SM City-format mall, but the project was subsequently developed as a Premier-branded destination. Construction began in 2011. The completed complex has a gross floor area of approximately 145,174 square metres and around 273 stores, making it one of the largest shopping malls in Mindanao. Its tenant mix combines fashion, department-store retail, groceries, dining, entertainment, services and technology-oriented retail. The principal anchors include The SM Store and SM Supermarket. Other facilities have included six cinemas, an IMAX theatre, an SMX Convention Center, a bowling centre and an al fresco dining area around the fountain court. The SM Science Discovery Center operated at the mall but closed in 2015. The property opened in 2012 after a tenant preview attended by retailers, restaurant operators, service businesses and other merchants. Contemporary reports described strong initial demand, with the mall substantially occupied around opening and large crowds contributing to heavy traffic on Jose P. Laurel Avenue. The mall's scale and convention facilities broadened its role beyond ordinary shopping: it became a venue for exhibitions, business events, advertising-industry gatherings and other meetings, while also functioning as a major leisure destination for residents and visitors to Davao. SM Lanang is located roughly 2.5 kilometres from Francisco Bangoy International Airport and about 4 kilometres from the Port of Davao. Its location near major road links, Davao Museum and the northern parts of the city supports both local and visitor traffic. The complex has also contributed to employment and commercial activity in the area. An IBEX Global Solutions business-process-outsourcing operation opened within the mall in 2013, adding office employment alongside the mall's retail and service jobs. The mall is managed within SM Prime Holdings' Philippine shopping-centre portfolio. It became the company's fourth mall in Mindanao and its second in Davao City, following SM City Davao. A possible future expansion has been associated with the area between the existing mall and the planned SMDC Lane Residences development, with work reported as potentially beginning around 2026. The project remains a major SM retail asset in Davao, combining regional shopping, dining, entertainment, convention and business-service functions.

SM Lanang developed from SM Prime Holdings' effort to establish a large-scale retail and leisure complex in northern Davao City. In 2008, the company acquired approximately 10 hectares from Dakudao and Sons, part of the former Lanang Golf and Country Club property. The site offered access to Jose P. Laurel Avenue, the S.P. Dakudao loop and routes connecting the northern city districts, Francisco Bangoy International Airport and the Port of Davao. Early plans reportedly envisioned a conventional SM City mall containing an SM department store, a supermarket or hypermarket, cinemas and supporting retailers. SM Prime later expanded the concept and positioned the project as a larger and more upscale destination. Local observers informally referred to the proposed development as SM North Davao while planning was under way. The project was initially associated with a 2011 opening, but the construction schedule was revised and work began in 2011. The completed development was designed by Point Design, with G&W Architects serving as architect of record. Other appointed firms included NGCB as general contractor, D.A. Abcede and Associates as project manager, Edge as cinema designer, Abesamis-Guerrero for the SMX Convention Center and HBO+EMTB for the Cyberzone. The exterior design drew on origami, using asymmetric lines across the north, south and west façades. The mall was announced to tenants as SM Lanang Premier and became the first SM Supermall to carry the Premier brand. It contains four indoor levels, approximately 145,174 square metres of gross floor area and about 273 stores. The anchors are The SM Store and SM Supermarket. Its wider facilities have included six cinemas, an IMAX theatre, an SMX Convention Center, a bowling centre and a fountain-court dining area. The SM Science Discovery Center also operated at the property before closing in 2015. The public opening took place in 2012. Available reference material gives inconsistent specific dates for the opening, so the year is more reliable than a particular day. The mall had a substantial but not fully occupied tenant roster shortly before opening and reached a high initial occupancy level. Large crowds attended the opening, causing traffic disruption along surrounding roads. The mall subsequently became a major shopping and tourism attraction in Davao, with reported daily foot traffic reaching tens of thousands during its first operating period. Its convention and entertainment infrastructure helped differentiate it from a standard retail centre. In 2013, SM Lanang hosted a M.I.C.E. convention and the Philippine Advertising Congress, accommodating events involving approximately 5,000 people. The complex also attracted business-service tenants. IBEX Global Solutions opened a BPO facility there in 2013, adding office activity to the mall's retail, dining and leisure functions. SM Lanang became SM Prime Holdings' fourth mall in Mindanao and its second in Davao City, after SM City Davao. The company reported the property as an important contributor to its Mindanao presence, while the mall was also described as one of Davao City's significant taxpayers and employers. The original Premier identity was later retired. In 2023, the property was renamed SM Lanang, aligning it with the rebranding of SM malls that no longer used the Premier designation. The mall remains an active SM Prime property. A potential expansion has been reported for the area between the existing structure and the planned SMDC Lane Residences, with construction potentially beginning around 2026. The proposal indicates an effort to add capacity and integrate the mall with nearby mixed-use development, although the available reference does not establish a final scope or completion date.

• 2023

  The property is renamed SM Lanang

  [1]SM Lanangen.wikipedia.org

  The former Premier branding was removed as part of SM Prime Holdings' mall rebranding program.

• 2015

  SM Science Discovery Center closes

  [1]SM Lanangen.wikipedia.org

  The science-oriented attraction at the mall ceased operations.

• 2013

  Major convention and advertising events are hosted

  [1]SM Lanangen.wikipedia.org

  The mall hosted a M.I.C.E. convention and the Philippine Advertising Congress, demonstrating the role of its convention facilities.

• 2013

  IBEX Global Solutions opens a BPO facility

  [1]SM Lanangen.wikipedia.org

  A 3,500-square-metre IBEX Global Solutions operation opened inside the mall.

• 2012

  SM Lanang Premier opens

  [1]SM Lanangen.wikipedia.org

  The four-story mall opened to the public under the SM Lanang Premier name, becoming the first SM Supermall associated with the Premier branding.

• 2011

  Construction begins

  [1]SM Lanangen.wikipedia.org

  Construction started on the large-scale mall project in Lanang, Davao City.

• 2008

  SM Prime acquires part of the Lanang Golf and Country Club property

  [1]SM Lanangen.wikipedia.org

  SM Prime Holdings acquired approximately 10 hectares from Dakudao and Sons for the planned shopping-centre development.

A large regional shopping, dining, entertainment and events destination serving Davao City and the wider Mindanao market, with an upscale orientation inherited from its former Premier branding.

• Department store · 2012

  The SM Store

  The SM Store is one of the mall's principal anchor tenants, offering a broad department-store assortment that typically spans apparel, footwear, household goods, cosmetics, accessories and other general merchandise.

• Supermarket · 2012

  SM Supermarket

  SM Supermarket provides the mall's grocery anchor function, serving nearby households and complementing the centre's department-store, restaurant and service businesses.

• Entertainment · 2012

  SM Cinemas and IMAX Theatre

  The entertainment component has included six cinemas and an IMAX theatre, making film exhibition one of the mall's principal leisure attractions.

• Convention and events venue · 2012

  SMX Convention Center

  The SMX Convention Center provides meeting, exhibition and conference space and has enabled SM Lanang to host business, advertising and other large organized events.

• Educational attraction · 2012

  SM Science Discovery Center

  The mall previously contained an SM Science Discovery Center, an educational and interactive attraction that was later closed in 2015.

• Shopping mall services · 2012

  Retail, dining and service complex

  The wider mall offering combines fashion and specialty retail, restaurants, al fresco dining, technology stores, personal services, entertainment and business facilities across approximately 273 stores.

• 2026

  Proposed mall expansionStrategy

  Background

  Reference material describes a possible expansion between the existing mall and the planned SMDC Lane Residences development.

  Action taken

  An expansion was reported as potentially beginning around 2026, although its final scope and schedule are not established in the available material.

  Source

• 2023

  Retire the Premier nameStrategy

  Background

  SM Prime rebranded Premier malls that no longer retained the designation.

  Action taken

  The property was renamed SM Lanang.

  Aftermath

  The mall continued operating under the SM Lanang name while retaining its established retail, entertainment and events functions.

  Source

• 2012

  Position the project as SM Lanang PremierStrategy

  Background

  SM Prime initially considered an SM City-format development but ultimately presented the larger northern Davao project under the Premier branding.

  Action taken

  The mall launched as SM Lanang Premier, combining standard retail anchors with expanded entertainment, convention and leisure facilities.

  Aftermath

  The property became the first SM Supermall associated with the Premier label and one of the largest shopping centres in Mindanao.

  Source

1. 1SM Lanangen.wikipedia.org