Engineering the magic: Perega’s structural role in Selfridges’ iconic Disney castle

We were pleased to provide a structural engineering audit and interface checks for the highly sustainable and innovative construction system supporting the 11-metre-tall Disney Castle at Selfridges’ London store. Unveiled as part of this year’s Christmas celebrations, this is the largest festive feature on the Oxford Street landmark in over half a century.

We delivered the structural engineering audit and analysis, facing the challenge of securing a significant temporary structure to an iconic building with suitable tolerance and minimal façade intervention. Our specialist retail engineers ran crucial checks on the existing Selfridges structure to ensure it could safely support the proposed loads from the installation.

To create a solution that is both efficient and cost-effective, we audited the unique reusable system for the façade interface, working closely with the design team. This forward-thinking approach significantly reduced the waste and long-term costs associated with temporary schemes.

Rob Barnes, Director and project lead, commented: “The challenge was to ensure the structural system for the largest installation the store has seen in over 50 years was not only safe but also fundamentally sustainable. Our engineering input, incorporating reusable anchors and bespoke column frames, ensures the structure can be rebuilt efficiently in the future, minimising material consumption and environmental impact.”

The project was delivered in collaboration with lead designer, Sculptivate Company, specialist installers, Ambar Installations, and fabricator StageOne, showcasing a seamless partnership.

This project continues our long-standing relationship with Selfridges, building on our extensive experience in the retail sector to deliver expert engineering for logistically challenging and landmark projects.

Learn more about our work in the retail sector and how we support retail organisations.