Westfield London Extension

Exceptional steelworks and complex sequencing to expand retail landmark

Phase 2 of Westfield London was a major extension to the original shopping centre, first opened in 2008 in Shepherd’s Bush. The expansion added seventy new retail units, including a flagship John Lewis anchor store, significantly increasing the centre’s footprint and commercial offering.

Complex Steel Frames

A highly complex steel frame was developed to span roads and Central line infrastructure, incorporating 15,000 tonnes of steel. The design included heavy plate girders, trusses, and hanging structures to accommodate the site’s constraints and deliver a robust, efficient solution.

Navigating Site Constraints

The extension expanded northward across land previously occupied by commercial and light industrial premises. Two major thoroughfares, Ariel Way and the main entrance to the centre’s car park, run through the site, requiring careful coordination.

Additional challenges included the presence of:

• The Central line and pedestrian tunnels
• The Hammersmith & City line to the north
• A suspended TfL carriageway connecting to West Cross Road

Integrated Design and Innovative Solutions

The new structure had to align with Phase 1 floor levels while maintaining clearance for highways below, severely limiting available structural depths. Despite this, a regular upper-level column grid with spans of 8 to 12 metres was achieved.

Creating a seamless connection between the two phases required substantial reworking of the existing structure, including partial demolition and resupport of a large concrete core. We developed a complete system of works for strengthening, replacing, and removing structural members over the westbound Central line.

Further innovations included the use of acoustic bearings near the Tube to mitigate vibration, and the construction of a subterranean link beneath the suspended TfL carriageway, ensuring connectivity and continuity across the expanded centre.