Council approves plans for exhibition and office space in London’s Docklands, which will open in time for Olympics

Siemens has been given the go ahead by Newham council for the development of a £30m sustainability centre in London’s Docklands.

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.

Set to open in early 2012, in time for the London Olympic Games, the centre will be in the Royal Victoria Docks.

Designed as a showcase of urban sustainability, an office, an exhibition and education facility, it will include 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 and Siemens expects to attract around 100,000 visitors a year.

It will also be a base for around 230 Siemens employees and provide the potential for around 50 local jobs.

The architectural concept for the building, designed by Wilkinson Eyre, is based on two interlocking triangular forms with multiple triangular facets.

The 7,002 sq m building will include:

  • A 2,760 sq m flexible and interactive exhibition hall, with an education facility, shop and dockside café
  • A 1,395 sq m conference suite including a 300 seat auditorium, meeting rooms and café
  • 1,997 sq m of office space

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.

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