30th November 2023

Ministry of Sound collaborates with Westfield

Ministry of Sound (MoS), one of the UK’s most iconic nightclub brands, is set to venture into a new beat! Taking over the now-empty House of Fraser lot in Westfield Shepherds Bush, “The Ministry” is gearing up to become the ultimate work/life destination, mixing contemporary co-working and flexible office space with a state-of-the-art gym, rooftop bar and high-end resturant.

Visitors won’t have to wait long to experience this vibrant West London venue, which will be opening in early 2024.

Perega’s glass and façade team has played a pivotal role supporting the rapid conversion of the 115,000-square-foot retail area into a mixed-use space, which MoS is confident will disrupt all existing expectations of a typical workspace.

Our project team, headed up by Senior Structural Engineer, Joe Thornton, closely collaborated with the glazing and façade contractor from the outset, ensuring joined up communication throughout the design and build journey. Specifically, they addressed the refurbishment of the  curtain walling and structural glazing areas, advising on clear vision glass and curtain walling solutions in key spots such as the replacement non-vision cladding to office spaces (including a new secondary steel structure to support both existing cladding panels and new curtain walling screens), bar and main entrance area.

Transforming the traditional department store into a commercial office and hospitality hub calls for precise focus on every structural detail. With seamless coordination between the team, project managers, and fabricators, they collaboratively devised solutions that met all requirements within the challenging timeline, ensuring the building became fit-for-purpose for its multiple uses.

The project’s sustainability brief enabled us to show off our low-carbon approach to engineering. The quick turn-around in design and construction, combined with a conscious selection of materials and eco-friendly solutions, has aligned the development with stringent environmental standards. Perega offered a variety of sustainable options including bracketry solutions in aluminium, steel and stainless steel

However, the project has not been without challenges. Discovering post-tension slabs within the main framework presented a considerable problem. Additionally, the restricted accessibility for repairs due to shallow embedding specifications around post-tension areas added to the complications. To tackle these issues, custom-made bracket systems were designed.

‘The Ministry’ is the second development of its kind, following the MoS’ original Elephant and Castle office complex, built in 2018.

Joe says, “It has been great to work with The Ministry of Sound on such an exciting and out-of-the-box project. The space is not only visually appealing but will give new meaning to co-working spaces. The team’s commitment to pushing boundaries and delivering solutions that blend form and function seamlessly has been inspiring to observe.”

To find out more information on Perega’s work in the leisure sector, click here.