Westfield M7

Westfield, the retail company, is launching Westfield M7, a new 800,000 square feet commercial office development at Westfield City Stratford.

The core of the project will be a new 12 storey building, with nine storeys being above the existing Westfield Shopping Centre. This office development will be for new HMRC offices. In addition, there will be a screened roof garden that provides outstanding views of Queen Elizabeth Park.

MPN were commissioned to provide strengthening work to facilitate the increase in load from the existing office floor levels. The strengthening works had to be completed within or in close proximity to current tenants and the basement car park, which created some design restrictions.

In addition to office space, derelict land north of the existing site will be converted into shops and leisure facilities. West London’s first John Lewis department store will form part of the shopping centre extension and it will employ around 600 members of staff.

Westfield’s plan is to create three separate zones on the site. A retail area, centred around the new retail space, a residential quarter with new homes and a public space. The plan is to provide a dynamic and attractive gateway to Shepherd’s Bush town centre, by delivering beneficial regeneration to the area.

The 12 storey office scheme is targeting a BREEAM rating of Excellent as a result of its heating, water and ventilation systems. As part of the development, Peter Marshall Steel Stairs are supplying and installing two steel stair cores.

Due to the shallow height of the screened roof garden, a prairie selection of plants has been used, to create a tranquil atmosphere. Special considerations were also taken to store rain water to ensure a sufficient water supply.

The multi-million pound commercial development will form part of the new urban quarter of Westfield Stratford City and it is expected to help boost investment and help with regeneration.