Loughton Contracts supplied and installed the floor finishes to Microsoft’s first UK retail store located at London’s Oxford Circus. The project was managed by Overbury Plc and designed by Gensler UK. The install programme for this £1m flooring contract was extremely tight at just ten weeks and we needed to call on all our experience of large fit out projects to get this over the line.
New floor finishes were supplied and installed from the basement right up to the top floor of Microsoft’s new UK retail store.
The back of house areas received over 500m2 of Forbo Marmoleum tiles following extensive prep work to the existing concrete sub floor. A liquid DPM was utilised to prevent any moisture ingress.
The Ground and First floor retail areas had an 18mm plywood sub floor installed followed by an unfinished American White Oak engineered floor. Over 700m2 of material was hand selected and shipped from America to ensure continuity with the software giant’s US stores. Once installed the floor was sanded out of hours and finished with a hard-wearing ceramic coating.
Careful coordination with the joinery contractor was required for the helical timber staircase that was clad in solid American White Oak and finished with brass C.A.T. nosing’s. The team ensured a seamless transition to meet the main floor covering.
Meeting and gaming rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors had 230m2 of carpet tiles installed to give a softer contrast and help with acoustics.
A very tight and aggressive fit out programme meant the team worked day and night to allow other trades access across the retail floors. Our project management team attended sequencing meetings every evening to coordinate the works.
Timber was installed to concealed circular floor socket lids ensuring that the timber grain was continuous throughout. Careful coordination with the electrical contractor was paramount to ensure locations were correct.
The project was completed to programme and handed over to the client in time for Microsoft to open their first ever UK retail store.
