The Lexicon Bracknell opens today

The Lexicon Bracknell opens to the public today [7 September 2017]. The scheme will bring 580,000 sq ft of new shops, restaurants and leisure to the town as well as a creating a new social and cultural heart.

Designed by BDP for Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, a joint venture between Legal & General and Schroders along with Bracknell Forest Council, The Lexicon is a next generation shopping and leisure destination providing a vibrant mix of brands and experiences, green landscaped spaces for entertainment and events, and a high quality mix of shops and leisure venues connected in a pedestrian-friendly environment.

Project director Garry Wilding said “A key concept for the scheme and public realm design has been ‘the greening of Bracknell’ to transform the character of the existing town centre. The masterplan is conceived with streets and spaces at the core, individual building blocks are designed to provide variety and interest. We designed the scheme utilising a rich warm palette of materials including brick, timber, feature perforated aluminium, and gold/silver aluminium cladding, there is a strong emphasis on natural materials, exemplified by the extensive use of green living walls to a number of the buildings. The most striking architectural elements are the gateway timber diagrid roof that sits elegantly above Braccan walk and the landmark Fenwick building.”

BDP is lead consultant, architect and lighting designer for the six blocks that constitute the Northern Retail Quarter. The scheme comprises two department stores, retail units, restaurants and cafes, 10 screen cinema, multi storey car park and 92 apartments defining a series of new covered and open streets and civic squares.

The Lexicon is the part of a larger town centre regeneration scheme which will see Bracknell become the first post-war new town to be comprehensively demolished and rebuilt.