Construction commenced today on a new eleven storey building called Gateway Central by Stanhope on behalf of investors Mitsui Fudosan and Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo). Six floors of the building are pre-let to L’Oréal UK and Ireland. Construction is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2022.
The global cosmetics company will be moving their UK and Ireland headquarters to the building, relocating from their current headquarters in Hammersmith. The building will provide a space that reflects L’Oréal’s ways of working, focusing on collaboration, creativity and agility and adapted to the opportunities and new reality of the post-COVID world.
As part of the move, the L’Oréal Academy, which will train more than 10,000 hairdressers a year, will be located in the new building.
Designed by one of the UK’s largest architecture practices Allies and Morrison, Gateway Central has a total floor space of over 260,000 square feet and includes an outdoor terrace with capacity for up to 250 people. Other occupiers in the vicinity include online luxury fashion retailer YOOX-NET-A-PORTER, Swiss multinational pharmaceutical Novartis, the BBC and ITV Studios.
With White City Place at almost 100% capacity, the delivery of Gateway Central will provide new prime office space to meet the continued demand from companies looking to relocate to the area. With L’Oréal occupying six floors of Gateway Central there will be a further 160k square foot of available space in the remaining five floors of the building.
The building which will be located on land directly adjacent to MediaWorks is part of the wider regeneration of White City, which has seen the area transformed into a world class business and education district.
David Camp, Chief Executive, Stanhope said:
“We are delighted to have started the next phase of construction work with groundbreaking on a new state of the art building at White City Place. Gateway Central is the next step in helping us complete our vision of transforming White City Place into a global business district for world class companies. Delivering over 260,000 sq. ft. of new floor space, the building will enable us to continue to meet the significant demand for office space at White City Place. L’Oréal’s commitment to moving their new headquarters to the new building will complement the mix of other creative companies that call White City their home.”
Tomoo Nakamura, Managing Director, Mitsui Fudosan UK said:
“We are very happy that piling has started on Gateway Central. L’Oréal will be a fantastic addition to the site and the new building will further enhance White City Place’s reputation as a destination of choice for ambitious innovative businesses seeking world class facilities, a prime location with renowned transport links.”
Micheal Dal Bello, Senior Vice President, Real Estate, AIMCo said:
“We are delighted that work has begun on the brand-new office building in White City – Gateway Central. The building is testament to the growing success of White City’s vibrant business environment and underscores our optimism and belief in the strength of the London real estate and leasing market.”
Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, said:
“Our first-of-its-kind Industrial Strategy is building Hammersmith & Fulham into a global hotspot for businesses in STEM industries, media, the arts, and fashion. I’m therefore delighted that L’Oréal, the world’s largest cosmetics company, has commissioned its new UK and Ireland headquarters at the epicentre of all that exciting economic activity.
“L’Oréal are a wonderful corporate citizen who already work closely with us giving young people with special educational needs and disabilities opportunities in work. I look forward to deepening that relationship and watching L’Oréal thrive”.
Vismay Sharma, Country Managing Director, L’Oréal UK and Ireland said:
“We are very excited that building work has begun on our new headquarters at White City Place, a site which is reflective of our position as a leader in sustainable beauty and beauty technology. Relocating our corporate headquarters provides us with a unique opportunity post-COVID to build a workplace for tomorrow, designed around modern working methods that encompass L’Oréal’s ethos of creativity and innovation.”
Stanhope, Mitsui Fudosan and AIMCo were advised by Knight Frank and L’Oréal by Cushman and Wakefield. Sir Robert McAlpine are the Construction Managers.
