Adjaye Associates manipulates expanded aluminium veil on the exterior to create light and movement

The Stephen Lawrence Centre in Deptford, south east London opened its doors to its first students this week.

Designed by architect Adjaye Associates, the building incorporates light-reflecting expanded aluminium veil (EAV), supplied by cladding specialists James & Taylor.

Adjaye’s project director for the building said: “EAV is a material we’ve wanted to work on with a facade for a while. It’s elegant, yet robust.

"The way it reflects light and the subtle variations according to the weather or time of day are beautiful.”

The new centre, built as a lasting tribute to murdered London teenager Stephen Lawrence who dreamed of being an architect, will provide educational and training routes out of poverty into sustainable careers in urban design.

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