ROBIN / 20.11.02 / sent 19:35PM

Big plans for Bristol.
Meet you onsite?

PHIL / 20.11.02 / sent 20:15PM

Opportunity of a lifetime. See you there.

A retail landmark.
A city centre revived.

Challenge accepted.

In 2008, Cabot Circus set a new benchmark for high performing, sustainable retail centres. It altered the industry's expectation of what could be achieved when experts from across disciplines work together.

By breathing life into the project via the first fully covered, open streetscape of its kind, we were helping to create a new landmark in urban regeneration. In doing so, we also helped re-establish Bristol as a sought-after retail and leisure destination.

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Stood in a derelict car park by a crumbling office block, we imagined a revolutionary leisure experience for Bristol.
Phil grew, Head of Retail and project lead
Challenge

Regenerated realities.

From the start, it was clear that Cabot Circus could redefine what Bristol city centre meant to local communities. Our job was to bring the space to life in a way that would inspire and excite.

With 140 shops, 15 luxury flagship stores, 300 residential apartments, and a 2,000 space car park, it was to be one of the first new build schemes in the UK not to be fully enclosed and temperature controlled.

  • Client: Hammerson and Land Securities
  • Architect: Chapman Taylor
  • Site Size: 36 Acres
Approach

Laying the foundations.

Cabot Circus required the very best of our utility and energy infrastructure experience; with roads moved, electrical substation plants re-positioned and one of the largest telecoms trench-share agreements we had ever seen.

Designing the project’s IT services was just as demanding. At the time of the design, the aim was ambitious – to have all of the electronic systems on site carried by a single multi-fibre network. Our designs reduced the amount of distributed systems data cabling usually associated with such large-scale retail schemes.
Human Impact

A city reawakened.

The area of Bristol city centre that Cabot Circus transformed had become tired, unloved, and suffered from under investment. Ultimately, it was unfit for a modern, aspirational city like Bristol.

In the months after opening, the affects of this ambitious regeneration became apparent.

By re-establishing residential uses in the city centre – along with the public realm enhancements throughout – new neighborhood communities began to develop.
Technical Impact

A revolution in retail.

Our work on Cabot Circus set the benchmark for future retail developments. The naturally ventilated covered spaces we engineered meant the elements traditionally associated with covered malls could be re-thought and
re-imagined with a more human focus.

With no mechanical ventilation, heating or cooling, energy efficiency improved dramatically. A fact reflected back to tenants.

The retail construction industry has changed and we’re proud to have helped engineer its evolution.
When Cabot Circus opened and people filled the space, we understood the true scale of what we had helped create.
Key Figures
98% Occupancy rate
140 New shops
17.5M Annual footfall
IT Award-winning infrastructure

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The retail experience has evolved, and Cabot Circus helped change it.
Project complete.