Can Ye Convert K West Hotel? LSF Says Yes

£45m has been spent transforming 1960s BBC offices into a stunning 231 room hotel with spa, pool and gym. LSF Commercial's curtain walling was used extensively.

The building had previously been turned into an hotel called the K West Hotel and Spa in Shepherd's Bush. It closed its doors in December 2023, ready for a new chapter. That chapter is now known as Hotel Indigo London K West Shepherd's Bush.

From concept to completion, LSF Commercial, an aluminium systems specialist, delivered a full turnkey service on what is now an award-winning project. What LSF did sits behind a stunning glass envelope. LSF was brought in to take architect Mosaic Architecture + Design's original vision through detailed curtain wall design, engineering, survey, fabrication and installation, a complete in-house journey from drawing board to finished façade.

Schüco

The bulk of the project used Schüco's AWS 70 HI window system, while the FWS50 curtain wall system by Schüco was also installed. 

“This project is a perfect example of what LSF was built to do,” said director Onkar Toot. “We took the architect's concept and carried it through every stage ourselves, refining the design, engineering the detail, surveying on site and fabricating and installing the finished system. That's the value we bring; a client deals with one team from start to finish.”

Complexity and challenge

While the windows made up the majority of the glazed envelope, it was the curtain walling that created the greatest technical challenge. Architectural constraints on the building meant the layout carried real complexity, with the main section of the screen sitting ‘in plane’ using the FWS 50 stick curtain wall system, a 50mm face-width solution chosen for its clean lines and flexibility.

Within that in-plane section, LSF's team incorporated two large door openings, a detail that demanded precision at every stage of design and fabrication.

Big door openings

"The curtain walling on this scheme was genuinely complex," said Tool. “Getting a large stick system to sit cleanly in plane while accommodating substantial door openings takes careful engineering and a fabrication team who understand exactly what the design is asking of the material. That’s what we delivered."

Thermal efficiency

Elsewhere across the building, the AWS 70 HI window system was specified for its thermal performance and versatility, giving LSF's team a consistent, high-performing solution to roll out across the majority of the façade.

Tool added: “Seeing a building transformed like this and knowing our façade work stands behind it, is exactly why we do what we do.”

LSF Commercial fabricates high-performance aluminium windows, doors, fire-rated systems, curtain walling and shopfronts for commercial projects nationwide, supplying sectors including commercial, education, retail, residential and healthcare.

Picture: LSF Commercial's curtain walling has brought Hotel Indigo K-West to life.

lsfcommercial.co.uk