The development comprises 4,100 square metres of Grade-A flexible office space above 4,410 square metres of retail space at second floor, first floor, street and lower levels. The scheme was commissioned by Great Portland Estates and, prior to completion in 2018, was sold to Norway’s Global Government Pension Fund.
The building has a contemporary appearance on Oxford Street, while the masonry materials around the corner echo neighbouring buildings in Soho. A kink in the site widens the pavement towards the Tottenham Court Road Crossrail station, on the other side of the street, opening views to the station entrance and easing the flow of pedestrians into Dean Street and the station plaza.
A palette of self-finish materials was chosen to stand the test of time. The primary façades are clad in unitised glass shadow boxes, with stainless-steel and anodised aluminium linings, and the side façade is clad in reconstituted stone and unglazed terracotta fins, which complement a retained brick façade that was raised 900mm to tie in with the new, taller storey heights.
A dramatic 16-metre-high office entrance on Dean Street is accessed via a new pedestrianised forecourt to the Crossrail ticket hall. The office lift and service core is positioned to the rear of the plan to maximise clear open floor plates, and optimise Zone-A retail space. Two of the four office floors have terraces, where staff can relax during breaks, high above the bustle of Oxford Street.