The engineering and technology services firm Siemens has welcomed the London Borough of Newham Council’s decision as an important one for the city’s sustainability.
Siemens is behind the development, which is designed to incorporate areas set aside for exhibition, conferencing and education purposes, as well as roughly 21,500 square feet of new London office space.
The site earmarked for development covers close to a quarter of a million square feet and will be within walking distance of the Olympic Park, currently being established in the East End of London.
“Our aim is to create an attractive focal point that celebrates London’s ambition and leadership in green technologies and sustainability,” explained Siemens chief executive Andrea Gross.
“I hope the Siemens Pavilion 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,” she added.
Last week, a report from the chartered surveying business Farebrother suggested that dozens of third-sector organisations, in particular, are taking advantage of good deals on office space to rent in the Midtown areas of central London.
The company maintains that third-sector operators should get more for their money when renting London office space.
Editor’s notes: In October 2011, the Siemens Pavilion was renamed The Crystal.
It was officially opened in September 2012. It was due to open earlier that year, but the harsh winter of 2010 to 2011, plus ground contamination, had delayed construction progress.
The circa 65,000-square-foot building featured exhibition spaces, conference facilities, and a technology and innovation centre.
In 2022, following the pandemic, it reopened as London’s new City Hall and became the home of the London Assembly.
In a 2025 article, it was noted that The Crystal was the first-ever building to be awarded both BREEAM Outstanding and LEED Platinum certifications.