Occupying one building block which borders the busy Vaughan Way to the north-west and the Shires Shopping Center to the south-east, the John Lewis Department Store and Cineplex both is an anchor to the Shopping Center and enlivens Vaughan Way through the complimentary functions of the department store and the cinema, which provide continuous activity. 
 

Commissioned within a larger city centre regeneration scheme, the Department Store and Cineplex challenge the conventional blank envelopes which typify these buildings and explore new ways for them to connect to an urban context.  In order to produce a unique experience for both visitors and those passing by, and to make the building unique to Leicester, a number of cultural and historical references have been used to animate the block and enrich the retail and leisure experience.