The Whiteley

Project Description

The redevelopment of The Whiteley is a landmark restoration and mixed-use transformation of London’s historic former Whiteleys department store in Bayswater, London. Retaining and restoring the Grade II listed façade, dome and key heritage features, the scheme has re-established the building as a premier retail, leisure and hospitality destination.  

The development comprises luxury residences, a 110-key Six Senses hotel, retail and food and beverage space, a cinema, wellness facilities and public realm improvements. Designed by Foster + Partners, the project sets a new benchmark for heritage-led regeneration and achieved BREEAM Excellent for the hotel, leisure and retail elements. 

Our Input
chapmanbdsp’s scope included the design and integration of building services within a constrained heritage environment, balancing modern operational requirements with the preservation of historic fabric. Developing the MEP strategy for the hotel, retail and leisure facilities, chapmanbdsp supported the creation of a site-wide energy infrastructure, and delivered fire engineering solutions to enable the restoration and adaptive reuse of the building while meeting contemporary performance, safety and sustainability standards 

Key Features
A central energy centre serves the entire development through a mini district heating and cooling network, alongside a high-voltage electrical distribution system that provides resilient power across the mixed-use scheme.  

A key engineering challenge arose from planning constraints that prohibited rooftop plant, allowing all roof terraces to be dedicated to premium amenity space. To overcome this, all major plant was located within the basement, requiring the design of a bespoke heat-rejection strategy that integrates cooling plant operation with smoke ventilation, general extract and standby generator ventilation systems.  

The MEP design also prioritised sustainability, delivering energy-efficient systems that contributed to the achievement of BREEAM Excellent certification and supported the project's wider ambition for low-carbon operation, resource efficiency and circular economy principles. 

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