The Crystal

The centre, which features exhibition spaces, conference facilities and a technology and innovation centre for the multinational conglomerate Siemens, sits at the west end of the Royal Victoria Dock in Newham, near to the Thames cable car and Excel Centre.

The building's functions are arranged in two lightweight glazed parallelograms that are separated by a three-storey atrium, with links to a vehicular corporate entrance to the rear of the building. The exhibition crystal to the north is a full-height void while the conference crystal to the south encloses a gigantic red auditorium pod with 300 seats, and meeting rooms and office space on the upper floors.

The facility also includes electric vehicle recharging points and a café.

To meet sustainability targets the building has an array of renewable technologies. The roof is clad with photovoltaic and solar thermal panels; almost 200 geothermal pipes sit below the building; and to the rear of the centre there is an energy centre with heat pumps that convert the geothermal energy for heating and cooling and a backwater recycling plant.