Architects selected to design exemplar research centre
3 November 2009
The London Thames Gateway Development
Corporation’s (LTGDC) ambition to locate a world class
sustainability research institute in east London has moved a step
closer with the appointment of a design team led by award winning
Edward Cullinan Architects. The £8.5m research centre will be based
at LTGDC’s London Sustainable Industries Park (London SIP) at
Dagenham Dock.
The exemplar research centre will
be the first phase of development for the Thames Gateway Institute
for Sustainability and aims to provide adaptable accommodation for
research, development and application projects being undertaken by
the Institute and its partners. It will be an integral part of the
London SIP with multi-disciplinary research projects into
sustainable construction and procurement, energy management,
materials re-use and recycling. It will also provide business
incubation support services.
Over 50 teams originally bid for the
commission and after shortlisting, the team comprising Edward
Cullinan Architects, Ramboll UK (Structural Engineer), Hoare Lea
(Services and Sustainability) and Whitelaw Turkington (Landscape
and Ecology) has been selected.
Mark Bradbury, Deputy Director of Development
at the LTGDC said: “Edward Cullinan Architects scored consistently
well across all of our selection criteria, with particularly strong
performance being noted within their proposed design, vision and
approach to sustainability and with the project personnel they were
dedicating to resourcing the project.”
Securing the location of the
world-class research centre in east London contributes
significantly to LTGDC’s aim to develop the London SIP as a unique
site for ‘industrial symbiosis’ – a process by which
businesses establish trading relationships to use each others
products, by-products and waste and share resources, moving towards
a closed loop system at the park.
The London SIP is part of LTGDC’s
ambition to regenerate a 25 hectare area of vacant and underused
former industrial land, creating more than 2,000 new jobs in east
London.
The research centre will be
designed to ensure adaptability to changing needs and to promote
interaction between businesses with zones to allow for both public
access and project security. It will reflect the best practice in
sustainable design and management and is aiming to achieve BREEAM
‘Outstanding’ and LEED ‘Platinum’ status. A planning application
will be submitted in March 2010 with the centre expected to open by
Spring 2011.
Ian Short, Director and Trustee at the
Institute said "We are working with a number of our high profile
academic and corporate partners to bring truly exciting research on
sustainability best practice to the UK and east London. The London
SIP offers us a unique opportunity to base world class researchers
amongst those companies who are delivering sustainability on the
ground."
Mark Bradbury added “The inward investment and
business proposition for environmental technology firms just gets
better and better. The Thames Gateway Institute for Sustainability
is the only organisation in the Gateway with the expertise, depth
and partnerships to bring commercial solutions for sustainability
to businesses and major developments in the region. The
synergies that the Institute brings to the London SIP add up to a
winning formula for businesses and major regeneration benefits to
the local community.
“Driving the process for securing the
Institute’s base at the London SIP is evidence of our firm
commitment to making East London a critical location for innovation
and advance in environmental technologies and sustainable
industries. We’ve had a fantastic response to our call
for a design team to deliver this project and we’re looking forward
to seeing proposals in more detail.”
Colin Rice, director at Edward Cullinan
Architects, said: “This is a great opportunity with such a strong
team to drive forward our sustainable research buildings we have
been developing at the University of East London Dockland Campus
and at Warwick University to help stimulate regeneration.”
Subject to demand, the Institute will look to
deliver a subsequent extension on the site within three years.
END
For further information about LTGDC please go
to http://www.ltgdc.org.uk/
and the Institute please visit www.instituteforsustainability.co.uk
For press enquiries please contact
Emma Cassidy
Tel: 020 7612 8478
Email: ec@londoncommunications.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
is the key government agency responsible for delivering social and
economic growth to transform the London Thames Gateway, part of
Europe's largest regeneration project.
It has significant powers to effect change, by
helping to improve the prospects for new homes, jobs, services and
environmental improvements for local people.
LTGDC is the lead regeneration agency for the
Lower Lea Valley and the London Riverside - the two areas with the
greatest potential for growth in London and the Thames Gateway.
For further information please go to http://www.ltgdc.org.uk/
The Thames Gateway Institute for
Sustainability is an
independent, private sector led charity created to significantly
advance the UK's ability to deliver solutions for a sustainable
future.
Through extensive networks spanning the
private, public and academic sectors and our sister institute in
Shanghai, the Institute establishes close-to-market, collaborative
research and demonstration projects. As a registered charity, we
use the learning from these to promote best practice and support
regeneration.
For further information please go to http://www.instituteforsustianability.co.uk/