14th July 2018

West London Starbucks goes for green

Renowned for its iconic range of coffees and loved by millions globally, Starbucks leads the way not only where beverages are concerned, but also in commercial design.

Located in a retail park in Hayes, the chain’s latest outlet is the first of its kind in the UK. Referred to as ‘the glass box’ during concept design, the coffee shop is a compact drive-through comprised of a 1,800 ft2 building footprint, polished timber doors and floor to ceiling windows. To create a comfortable atmosphere for visitors, the building uses heat recovery and features solar shading throughout.

Responding to a demand for sustainable design, the café is LEED certified. Contributing to this, a green roof is used for attenuation of surface water. The surrounding car park includes electronic charging points, which both attracts customers and motivates them to stay and enjoy a drink.

Thomasons designed the steel frame and foundations, foul and surface water discharge, and diversion of the mains sewer running through the proposed development, together with the pavement design to tie the new development into the existing levels.

Darren Williams, Associate at Thomasons, says: “This project is a prime example of leading trends in engineering and design, which we’re seeing increasingly specified. Clients are becoming more conscientious of their responsibility to provide eco-friendly spaces, which is reflected in a clever use of space, nature and the local environment.”

To find out more about Thomasons’ work in the leisure industry, click here.