Siemens has been given the go ahead by the London Borough of Newham for the development of a £30 million landmark sustainability centre in London’s Docklands. Councillors last night resolved to grant consent for the plans subject to signing of the Section 106 Agreement later this year. The centre has been designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects with Pringle Brandon as lead consultant and interior architect. Event is designing the exhibition space, and the engineering consultant is Arup.
Artist impression of entrance to the Siemens Pavilion
Andreas J. Goss, Chief Executive at Siemens plc said: “I am delighted we have the green light to build the Siemens sustainability centre. Our aim is to create an attractive focal point that celebrates London’s ambition and leadership in green technologies and sustainability. Siemens is at the heart of providing sustainable solutions from renewable energy generation, to low-carbon transport and urban infrastructure. I hope the Siemens Pavilion will act as a catalyst for wider community involvement in the debate about how we best address the challenge of climate change in our cities."
Mayor Sir Robin Wales said: “It will position Newham as a leader of the low carbon economy and help attract other high profile companies into the Royal Docks, which has obvious implications for increased employment and training opportunities.”
“Nowhere else in the UK is undergoing transformation on the scale of Newham. London is moving east and there is huge potential here for investment, growth and greater prosperity. I am delighted a huge blue chip organisation such as Siemens plc has recognised this by bringing such a ground breaking project to the UK and the Royal Docks in particular.”
“The Royals are where London’s future essential economic growth can truly thrive. The size of the opportunity is vast – it is a development area the size of Venice with 12 miles of dock and river edge.” Added Sir Robin: “The commitment by Siemens will prove an unbelievable catalyst for further high value, high quality job creating investment. New high skilled jobs in the burgeoning growth sectors of environmental and life science technologies will be fundamental to that agenda.
“The Pavilion, as a significant science based visitor attraction showcasing the best in the world’s technological advances, will inspire young people into jobs within the high technological industries of tomorrow.”
Artist impression of Siemens Pavilion office space
Set to open in early 2012 the centre in the Royal Victoria Docks will be a flagship for East London’s Green Enterprise District. Designed as a showcase of urban sustainability, an office, an exhibition and education facility, it will showcase new technology from around the world and new ways of living and working in a more sustainable city. The interactive exhibitions and events will be open to the public.
Siemens expects to attract around 100,000 visitors a year, with school groups from across London expected to use the facility for educational trips. It will also be a base for around 230 Siemens employees and provide the potential for around 50 new local jobs.
The architectural concept for the building, designed by Wilkinson Eyre is based on two interlocking triangular forms with multiple triangular facets. Its crystalline geometry which draws inspiration from nature responds to its waterside location and visually contrasts the curve of the O2 Centre beyond.
The 7,002 sq m (75,370 sq ft) building will include:
- A 2,760 sq m (29,709 sq ft) flexible and interactive exhibition hall, with an education facility, shop and dockside café
- A 1,395 sq m (15,016 sq ft) conference suite including a 300 seat auditorium, meeting room and café
- 1,997 sq m (21, 496 sq ft) of office space
The building will be a showcase for sustainable design and construction, maximising the use of natural daylight, incorporating high performance glazing, photovoltaic panels, energy efficient lighting and metering. Rainwater harvesting, water efficient appliances, ground source heat pumps and solar water heating will all be integral to the design and the building will be constructed using recycled steel and industrial by-product cement. Sustainable drainage and water efficient landscaping are also part of the plans to create a relaxing waterside environment around the building. The aim is to design and build a facility that reaches the highest standards of sustainability possible.
Chris Brandon, partner at Pringle Brandon, which is leading the project design team, said: “Siemens’ centre will be an iconic visitor attraction and educational facility at the heart of London’s Green Enterprise District that showcases and explains green technology; looking at how it impacts our lives at the moment and the potential we have to create better and more sustainable living and working environments over the next 10-20 years.”
Chris Wilkinson, Founding Director of Wilkinson Eyre Architects, said: “We are really pleased to receive consent for this exciting building which embodies the key design philosophies of our practice: combining the latest technology with dynamic form and an inherent approach to sustainability.”
The 22,300 sq m (240,037 sq ft) development site, which is owned by the London Development Agency and Newham Borough Council, sits at the heart of London’s Green Enterprise District on the western edge of the Royal Victoria Docks with the O2 Centre (Millennium Dome) as a backdrop. The nearest station will be Royal Victoria on the DLR line and the centre will be within walking distance of ExCeL.
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Notes to editors
About Siemens in the UK:
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 167 years ago and now employs 17,000 people in the UK. Last year’s revenues were £4.2 billion. As a leading global engineering and technology services company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, across the key sectors of energy, industry and healthcare. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Frimley, Surrey. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk
Contact:
Anne Keogh
Siemens Plc
Tel: 01276 696312
Email: anne.keogh@siemens.com
