URBAN SUSTAINABILITY CENTRE

It is a clear sign of the confidence in Londons ability to nurture and support eco-enterprises that Siemens has chosen to locate its flagship centre of sustainability here in the UK capital. The Siemens Centre is set to sit at the heart of a brand new Green Enterprise District, which will sweep across east of the city. We envisage that the district will be a vibrant, international hub incubating dozens of low carbon businesses. Boris Johnson, Mayor of London

Wilkinson Eyre Architects

The Siemens Urban Sustainability Centre in the heart of Londons Docklands will be an iconic building providing a place for community enjoyment as well as promoting education and learning in the fields of science, engineering, technology and sustainability. It will demonstrate Siemens commitment to creating sustainable cities and will attract not only major City planners and officials, but also members of the local community and educational groups, from school children to post graduate level students. It is envisaged that the centre will attract approximately 100,000 visitors every year. Siemens is committed to the development of new technologies and the centre will give visitors an opportunity to learn about technological solutions to urban challenges such as climate change and urban sustainability. The exhibition area is designed to make these topics exciting and tangible and to give context to the learning in the classroom. The building itself will showcase sustainable technologies and will demonstrate excellence in sustainable construction (targeting BREEAM Excellent and an EPC A rating). The building will also provide office space for around 250 Siemens employees and there will be a state of the art 300 seat auditorium as well as a shop, restaurant and caf facilities.

Wilkinson Eyre Architects

Our aim is to create an attractive focal point that celebrates Londons 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 Centre 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. Andreas J Goss, Chief Executive, Siemens plc & Cluster North West Europe

View from Royal Victoria Dock looking West

Wilkinson Eyre Architects

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 has recognised this. Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham

View from Western Gateway Road

The crystalline geometry of the architecture derives its inspiration from nature. The building responds to its location, visually contrasting the curve of the O2 Centre beyond. The massing of the two interlocking triangular forms generates an exciting and dynamic building from every angle as you move around the site. Chris Wilkinson, Founding Director of Wilkinson Eyre Architects

View towards main entrance

Wilkinson Eyre Architects

The proposal comprises two crystals - the exhibition and office/conference volumes respectively. We have developed the form into a pair of parallelograms or crystals that are themselves broken into a series of triangulated facets to form the facades. The facets create a very distinctive crystalline form, composed of a series of planar components. The sketches shown on the opposite page show some of the development of the crystalline form. The facets each have a different orientation, and so will reflect the light differently, creating a dynamic, exciting form from every angle. Taking cues from the mirrored surface of the dock, the form is therefore considered as a dynamic and reciprocal reflection of its setting.

Wilkinson Eyre Architects

West elevation

Wilkinson Eyre Architects

East elevation

The fundamental driver for this project is to become an exemplar in sustainable construction, through the intelligent integration of building structure, fabric and services as a series of coordinated active systems working together. Through design the building will reduce energy consumption and where energy is required as much as possible will be taken from the surrounding site in the form of renewables. The project will bring together both current established best practice systems, such as photo-voltaic cells, solar thermal water heating, rainwater harvesting and ground source heat-pumps, together with developing technologies in heat recovery such as thermal wheels. Wherever possible the building systems will be visible elements of both the architecture and exhibition strategies. This has the opportunity of providing a free exhibition that tells visitors how the building works and how the building systems adapt to changing seasonal and climatic conditions. The building will operate with a mixed mode ventilation strategy. Where seasonally possible, it will be naturally ventilated in both the office and exhibition crystals, using opening vents in the facades and roofs. When required, perhaps because of acoustic requirements, or because of large capacity events in summer months for example, a mechanical ventilation system can be used. These systems will be optimised using advanced Building Management System. The only public space that would always be mechanically ventilated will be the auditorium due to its acoustic requirements.

Wilkinson Eyre Architects

View from Silvertown looking East

The key objectives for the landscape design are to;

reinforce the identity of the centre by creating a highly attractive and desirable location and a
destination to visit

foster an awareness by inspiring people to think about their ecological footprint through
innovative design and community involvement

enhance the visual quality of the scheme to enable visitors to understand where they are and
create a place of interest and activity, ensuring it becomes a landmark in its own right

develop a high quality, durable materials palette to ensure the longevity and attractiveness of
the scheme

work with the local community and other stakeholders to develop long term plans with a clear
vision for future needs

consider from the outset of the design process how the landscape will be managed and
maintained in the long term

create places that are inherently flexible, taking account of the future impacts of climate
change and adaptation measures that may need to be retrofitted

consider the implementation of water management and recycling schemes.

Townshend

Pringle Brandon

View along internal street looking East

Ground floor plan

Pringle Brandon

The inherent connection between the ground floor and the adjacent public realm areas is capitalised upon by providing an active frontage to the Eastern edge of the building. The exhibition hall in the north crystal can be viewed through the prominent facades on this side. In the South crystal a lively cafe facility runs along the length of the water-facing elevation. On the less prominent facades, to the West and South, back of house and support functions are located. The North and South crystals are separated by a generous street, which is typically to be accessed by the public from the East and by staff and corporate visitors from the West. The main reception at the centre of this street provides a key orientation point. From here, there are views into the exhibition hall to the North, while the expressed volume of the auditorium will create a focal point within the corporate crystal.

Pringle Brandon

View of caf

First floor plan

Pringle Brandon

The key function for the first floor is the corporate conference suite set out along the East facing wing of the South crystal. This provides high quality board room and meeting room facilities with views out over the dock to the East. This facility is supplemented with an accessible roof terrace and a small area of secure client office space with West and South facing views.

Pringle Brandon

View along corridor on first floor outside meeting rooms

Pringle Brandon

Cities are responsible for 75% of the worlds energy use and produce more than 80% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Given that the proportion of the worlds population living in cities is increasing, it will be cities that determine whether we successfully make the shift to more sustainable living. The centre will be an iconic building at the heart of Londons Green Enterprise District showcasing and explaining green technology, how it impacts on peoples lives in the present day and the potential we have to create more sustainable living over the next 10-20 years. Chris Brandon, Partner, Pringle Brandon
Second floor - view into offices

Second floor plan

Pringle Brandon

Pringle Brandon

Section through auditorium

The second floor of the South crystal accommodates open plan office areas. Workstations on the East wing will have views out over the dock, those to the West wing will have views to Canary Wharf and the O2 Centre. All workstations are to benefit from natural daylight. At the centre of the plan, daylight penetration will be enhanced with skylights.

Pringle Brandon

Internal street view

sign off sheet

projectteam

Wilkinson EyreArchitects

For further information:

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Name ForandonbehalfofWilkinsonEyre Architects

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Anne Keogh Head of External Relations Siemens plc Name e: anne.keogh@siemens.com t: 01276 696312

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