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Portfolio acquired Foster Wheeler offices in 1998 and subsequently purchased the adjacent shopping centre and large multi storey car park, giving them a large portion of a town centre urban block immediately opposite the train and bus station, and identified as a key area in Reading’s long term plans.

Gaunt Francis undertook a series of masterplans and subsequently phased detailed design for each of the proposed elements. Foster Wheeler offices was proposed to be transformed into Thames Tower, adding lettable area to each of the existing 10 office floor plates and constructing 3 additional floors to the top, all enclosed within a new, contemporary envelope forming a striking landmark building. The 900 space multi storey car park and shopping centre adjacent was proposed to be enhanced by the construction of a three storey timber frame premier lodge hotel in the air space above the existing retail, carefully threading the hotel’s access into the shopping centre mall. The lower ground floor of the centre was proposed to be transformed into Reading’s largest nightclub development, consent for which was won at planning appeal. Sandwiched between these two new elements, the shopping centre main retail floor at ground was proposed to be rejuvenated into a leisure and retail destination providing a shortcut between parts of the town centre and the transport hub of bus and train stations.

Thames Tower, Friars Walk Premier Lodge and the nightclub have all obtained detailed planning consents and the regeneration of these buildings is currently under review by the new building owners.

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Client:
Portfolio Ventures (Reading) LP
Status:
Detailed planning consent winter 2001
Contract Value:
c. £29m
c. £5m
c. £3m = £38m total
Size:
c. 180,000sqft offices
c. 50,000sqft retail
143 bedroom hotel

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