138.com – Commercial Fit-out

Key Facts:

Client Name: 138.com
Location: Wardour Street, West End, London
Type of client: Commercial
Disciplines provided by M+C: Architectural Services | Project Management
Value: £700,000
Contractors: Forum Contracts
M+C Lead: Philip Ruffle

138.com is one of Asia’s leading Online Gaming operators, with over a decade of experience in the market. Following their successes within the online marketplace, they have taken the bold step to further enhance their UK offering with the development of their first bricks and mortar establishment in London. Harnessing their natural affinity to the Asian market, they secured a prestigious site in Wardour Street in the West End, nestled between Leicester Square and Chinatown.

3-5 Wardour Street is a seven storey building, including a basement level. Historically two properties, it has since been amalgamated through internal reconfiguration allowing for the provision of larger floor plates. The property benefits from two entrances and two separate staircases, in addition to a lift, allowing for separate access points. As part of the design process, planning permission from Westminster City Council was required for the alterations to the main entrance from Wardour Street. In addition to the planning permission, responsibility was also taken for building regulations for the works.

The scheme required significant space planning across the two floors to be used for the new casino and bookmaking shop. A number of layouts were developed to enable a suitable flow throughout the space, and refined in conjunction with the client team.

Working with interior designers; Silver Birch Designs, a high quality finish was specified throughout the building, with a distinctly opulent finish put in to place within the high net worth lounge.

The project was a fast-track commercial fit-out scheme, with a six-week turnaround required on-site in order to enable the casino to open its doors in line with the organisation’s programme. M+C project managed the scheme, working hand-in-hand with the fit-out contractors Forum Contracts. Given its location within busy Soho, the site presented numerous challenges to the programme, but diligent work from Forum Contracts, and a strong working relationship throughout the client team enabled works to be delivered efficiently and in line with the time-frames expected.

Photographs courtesy of Structured Images Ltd.