New Building to Sport First Multiplex Cinema, Amusement Center

The Daily Monitor (Addis Ababa) - allafrica.com

26 September 2006

A new seven-story building being erected around Bole Medhanialem area, on Cameron Street, will house what will be the first multiplex cinema - a cluster of three cinemas simultaneously screening different movies, and children amusement outlets, proprietor and First-class building contractor Teklebrehan Ambaye told The Daily Monitor.

According to Teklebrehan, the cinemas' interior sections and the children recreation center are designed by a Dubai-based company - Amusement Services International L.L.C - while the facilities will be of international standards.

"Owing to the fact that the investment by and large targets the international community, we have invested highly in the cinemas and the children amusement center, while the outlets are designed by foreign experts in the field and will be managed by Indians and Philippines personel (who will later train local staff) when the centers open," the Contractor said.

The sound and lighting systems of the cinemas alone will take an investment outlay of 14 million birr, and an eight- million birr worth playing machines will be installed at the children's amusement playing grounds,according to Teklebrehan The contractor said the children's amusement center will take which cover a 1500 square meters area will incorporate alone food courts and a flat that serves for children's birthday celebrations.

Situated on the second, third and fourth stories of the building, the cinema houses will have 800 seats for film watchers, with a two adjacent cinemas each to accommodate 300 persons, and a bigger one upstairs with 500 seats.

The cinema hauses will also incorporate two 15-seater special separate rooms for VIPs, with a dedicated elevator, according to Teklebrehan.

The cinemas would be screening Holly Wood movies within 15 to 30 days of their debut in the US and Europe,he said.

According to the Proprietor, locally produced movies will also be screened at the cinemas.

The family entertainment center - the cinemas and children recreation outlets - and the building itself is scheduled to be completed in January, 2007.

The Contractor Ssaid the total investment of the building, including the entertainment centers is estimated to cost 72 million birr, The machines and equipment alon will take over 30 million birr, he siad.

The seven-story building, which restes on an area of 2000 square meters, have two under ground basements for parking lots.