Lakeside Shopping Centre Thurrock

• External attraction space forming part of a £46 million shopping centre extension
• Integrated water and lighting features
• BIM used for design efficiency and clash detection

Lakeside Shopping Centre in south Essex was originally opened in 1990. To maintain its position in the rapidly evolving retail sector, the owners commissioned improvements to both buildings and external spaces aimed at making Lakeside a destination space with appeal throughout the day and into the evening

Wynne-Williams Associates were appointed as part of the construction team assembled by McLaren, the main contractor, which also included Leslie Jones Architecture and Cundall engineering consultants, to implement the original designs created for the client.

The new retail units and external spaces have been created on areas formerly laid to car parking and provide a series of linked spaces used for dining, pedestrian circulation, informal seating and for temporary external performances and events. Vehicle access routes have been amended to provide a drop-off and collection area.

Features within the paved areas include:

• Water tables, fountains and water walls
• Raised planters with both turf and natural grass surfaces
• A raised performance deck
• Play equipment
• An illuminated night-time seating area
• Catenary lighting suspended from columns which also contain “soundscape” speakers

The paved areas are laid to patterns that reflect the geometry of the building cladding and incorporate high quality natural stone and concrete units with resin bound aggregate.

As the £46 million scheme was constructed on a previously developed site which contained a labyrinth of underground services, BIM was used throughout the project to facilitate design and aid clash detection.