Repurposing existing structures
In parallel to our involvement in redeveloping the former Waterloo International Terminal for domestic train services we were asked to work closely with LCR (and their advisors Corstophine & Wright, Qoda and Arcadis), Network Rail and the Wessex Capacity Alliance on proposals to integrate a major new retail offer into the scheme.
The challenge was to repurpose the existing structure to accommodate a new shopping centre providing approximately 120,000 sqft of high quality A1 & A3 retail and D2 leisure uses over the three levels (including a basement). Our proposals had to meet the requirements of an operational station and provide a high quality environment both for shoppers and passengers. Additionally the scheme needed to provide for staff and back-of-house facilities and associated retail infrastructure, such as a new service yard for deliveries.
A new destination shopping experience
The resulting design elegantly integrates a contemporary major new retail offer while celebrating the building’s previous life as an international rail terminal. We took a sympathetic approach to the building fabric; a series of surgical moves included cutting openings into the slab to allow for a new set of central escalators and associated lifts to connect the three levels. A necklace of A1 and A3 retail units is arranged around the perimeter of each floor, with provision for a multi-level anchor store at the far end.
A new ceiling design echoes the former ceiling geometry expressing the platform structure above while maximising the height of a new ribbon of frameless glazed shopfronts. In places, the existing first floor slab will be extended outward toward a new and upgraded glazed external façade. High quality public realm along the former International Cab Road is introduced for the first time and provides an attractive and active frontage facing the soon to be redeveloped Elizabeth House mixed use development, while the basement below offers a significant new D2 leisure offer. London Waterloo, Britain’s busiest station, will become a new shopping destination in its own right.