WestQuay
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2007) |
 The Arundel Circus entrance to WestQuay |
|
| Location | Southampton, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Opening date | September 28, 2000 |
| Developer | Chapman Taylor & Partners |
| Management | Donaldsons |
| Owner | Hammerson |
| No. of stores and services | 100 active |
| No. of anchor tenants | 2 |
| Total retail floor area | 74,000 sqm (796,536 sqf) |
| Parking | Yes, 1 Podium, 1 Multi Storey |
| No. of floors | 6 |
| Website | Official website |
WestQuay is a shopping centre in Southampton, United Kingdom and has an area of 800,000 square feet (70,000 m2) of retail space and contains around a hundred shops, including major retailers such as, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Zara, Schuh, Waterstone's, Hollister Co., Bank, Apple, and many more top brand names.
It is situated in the centre of the city, close to the docks, with entrances on the main High Street (Above Bar Street), on Portland Terrace, through Waterstone's and through John Lewis. There is also a built in multi storey car park with an entrance into the centre along with a 3 tier car park beneath. Building work began in 1997 as the former Daily Echo building and Pirelli Cable Works were demolished to make way for the centre. The centre was opened on 28 September 2000.
The building is heated using geothermal energy, as is the civic centre. A centralised plant uses heat from an aquifer underground and then distributes it to the buildings in the city centre via a district heating scheme.
The John Lewis store replaced the local department store Tyrrell & Green (a branch of the John Lewis Partnership), which was met with mixed emotions from the local people. Marks & Spencer re-located from Above Bar Street to take the second anchor store.
There have been a few major changes to the centre's shops since its opening. The Tower Records (which faced fierce competition from the HMV store across the street) was replaced with a Nike store, which has closed after just a few months. This unit is now Pret A Manger a sandwich retailer. Waitrose moved to Portswood in 2006. The old Waitrose space has now been replaced by New Look as the current New Look store in the WestQuay was smaller. The smaller store, although having an upper floor, is now occupied by River Island. They have also moved, however they have came into WestQuay from a smaller high street store. In October 2007 some representatives from America came to Southampton (WestQuay) to learn about geothermal energy.
In mid May 2009 the first Hollister Store to be opened outside of the extended London area opened in WestQuay, this is considered to be a major coup for WestQuay as it reflects well on the strength of the retail offering available within WestQuay.
Contents |
[edit] Construction
WestQuay has been constructed on the former site of the Pirelli Cable Works and the 1960s Arundel Towers development (two office tower blocks above a multistorey car park) and it measures approximately ¼ of a mile from one end of the site to the other.
Demolition of the previous buildings began in September 1997 and WestQuay opened on 28 September 2000.
The development crosses over three major roads: The 20 m support structure from the two-storey glazed retail link over Portland Terrace weighs 400 tonnes, and Western Esplanade was cut in half by the centre. Harbour Parade is crossed by a footbridge to the adjacent multistorey car park.
It absorbs a 4 ½ metre change in ground level between east and west boundaries and the length of the mall from Above Bar to Harbour Parade is 400 m, and on top of the mall, The roof lights extend to around 350 m in length, There are a total of 32 lifts throughout the development, The steelwork took 20 weeks to design, order and manufacture, As many as 13 tower cranes worked on the site. The tallest crane had a 66 m mast and a reach of 65 m.
Southampton’s nearby Geothermal Heat Station supplies heat and chilling facilities to the centre.
[edit] Television Publicity
The WestQuay has had a lot of adverts on television in the local television region. WestQuay has appeared briefly on an episode in the first series of Trinny & Susannah Undress on ITV.
[edit] Awards
February 2000 Marketing Award Destination Southampton
September 2000 Secured Car park.
June 2001 Best High Street Development Property Week
July 2001 Opening, Refurbishment & Major Re-launch Purple Apple, BCSC
August 2001 Cobra Car Park Safety Award Police (Regional)
October 2001 European Week for Safety & Health
December 2001 Best New Centre BCSC
February 2002 Regeneration Award RICS
February 2002 Best New Car Park & Overall Winner British Parking Awards
February 2002 Secured Car Park Award Police
February 2002 Visitor Attraction Award, South Hampshire Destination Southampton
February 2003 Winner of Overall Marketing Campaign Purple Apple, BCSC
February 2003 Best Advertising Campaign Purple Apple, BCSC
March 2004 Services to Disability Award Destination Southampton
September 2004 Tom Hillyer Award National Shopmobility Federation
February 2005 Merit Award BCSC Purple Apple Awards
April 2005 Safe Car Park Award Park Mark
April 2006 Southampton Centre for Independent Living, Access all Areas Readers Award 2006 Southern Daily Echo
April 2006 Safe Car Park Award Park Mark
March 2007 Achieving Customer Excellence (ACE) Award Winner 40,000-80,000 m² category BCSC ACE Awards
March 2007 Achieving Customer Excellence ‘Top ACE’ Overall Award Winner BCSC ACE Awards
March 2007 Effective Management of Off-street Parking –Commendation British Parking Association
[edit] Expansion
There are plans to refurbish the slope up from the highstreet in 2010. These works will include the replacement of many shop fronts and the pulling up of the floor.
[edit] Gallery
.jpg)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 50°54′12″N 1°24′25″W / 50.90327°N 1.40692°W
