Having worked for this client on projects of all sizes and complexities for over 25 years, a wealth of experience has been gained in these types of retail fitout and construction projects.

Project sizes range from small scale customer toilet updates and refurbishments, to supporting property deals, asset management reviews, to full 250,000 sq.ft store refurbishments and new build full department stores, ranging in value from £200,000 to £80m.

Some highlights of works include as follows:

New small 140,000 sq.ft department store on the outskirts of York in a retail park environment. This involved both the external concept design, taken on by the developer, winning several regional awards, leading to the full fitout design of the shop including selling departments, customer and staff facilities and service areas.

New full line department stores in Birmingham above New Street Station and Leeds as part of the wider Victoria Quarter development. Both 260,000sq.ft  projects, involved working with the respective centre developers, to advise on the client’s requirements in both space and architectural form with the shell architects needing to adhere to the aesthetic and quality needed, for such a premiere brand. With such schemes lasting for around 5 years from inception to the shell construction, build monitoring, interior design and fitout to completion of the spaces, huge experience was gained on all aspects of the building process to deliver many exemplar buildings and sites.

The other key area of expertise is refurbishment of existing shops. These areas of work are even more complicated than the new stores, as they take place in a live shop environment and take the form of key department upgrades, to whole floor levels or store changes. Extensive experience of this type of work from minor department moves, to installation of franchises, to new departments or roll out programmes, all require significant knowledge of the clients’ requirements and processes while always monitoring the impact of the works on the staff and customer experience, to minimise disruption and be done in a safe and clean manner. One recent highlight of this type of work has been the full refurbishment of the 320,000 sq.ft Edinburgh store, which stayed live during the full demolition and reconstruction of the adjacent shopping centre. Begun in 2008 and opened in 2021, the works and design affected all aspects of the shop, including sales floor, back of house and services. Isolated from the wider scheme works; it was reorientated to face a new entrance for several years, to then be returned back to its original orientation to face back and link into the new centre. The scheme opened on budget and in time for the centre opening and was received well by the client and developer, as part of the wider St James Centre.

Client: John Lewis Partnership

Project: Various

Project Value / Type: Various