Work completes on iconic east London retail development

VolkerFitzpatrick has completed the development of the iconic steel-framed £11.5M Bishops Square retail project, situated near Spitalfields market, east London.

Designed by Foster + Partners, and inspired by the East End’s historic industrial warehouses, the distinctive two-storey building includes an exposed structural steel frame, coated in dark red iron oxide, infilled by glazing, canopies and partitions to give it a modern, industrial feel.

Smaller retail and food kiosks are located on the ground floor, along with an existing service ramp. The kiosks are fitted with fully glazed fronts – which provide maximum transparency to animate the street – and contain fully built-in kitchens for tenants to move into. These food kiosks are flexibly designed for multiple tenants over the course of the building’s life.

A larger unit, on the level above, can be accessed via a double-height entrance space at one end of the building.

Managing Director of VolkerFitzpatrick building division, Stuart Deverill said: “Our extensive experience of operating in logistically challenging and environmentally sensitive locations has been highly valuable in the construction planning and realisation of this exciting addition to the Spitalfields streetscape. This truly is a retail showpiece at Bishops Square and plays a big part in the regeneration of Spitalfields.”

Working on behalf of the main contractor, Elland Steel Structures fabricated, supplied and erected 360t of steel for the project.