Siemens has opened its first center for sustainable urban development inLondon.The heart of the Crystal is the world’s largest exhibition dedicated tosustainableurban development.
The crystal-shaped building will serve as a conferencecenter,urban dialogue platform and technology and innovation center all in one, bringingtogetherpolitical decision-makers, infrastructure experts and the general public in ordertodevelop concepts for the future of cities and their infrastructures.
“Cities are theengines ofthe world economy and also have the greatest impact on the environment. Thedevelopment ofour planet will stand or fall with the development of cities. Looking aheadto theurban future, the Crystal showcases a wide variety of opportunities and concretesolutions,”said Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher at the opening ceremony.
After a construction phase of about a year and a half, the Crystalbrings anarchitectural highlight and one of the world’s greenest buildings to the British capital.Siemensinvested some €35 million in the project.
Designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, the buildingfeatures a270-seat auditorium as well as the world’s largest exhibition on urban sustainability.Boasting anarea of 2,000 square meters, the exhibition presents existing infrastructure solutions thatmake lifein cities more sustainable and environmentally friendly while enhancing its quality. AttheCrystal, experts from the Siemens Center of Competence Cities engage in research anddevelopmentgeared to technologies and innovations for tomorrow’s urban infrastructures. Inaddition,the Infrastructure & Cities Sector will coordinate its City Account Managers from theCrystal.
“Cities worldwide are making investments to improve their watersupplies, powergrids, transportation systems and building infrastructures. Our addressablemarketalone has a volume of €300 billion. In this growth market, the Crystal will help us intensifydialoguewith our customers.
The Crystal is our Sector’s showcase, contact point and mastermind,”notedRoland Busch, member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and CEO of the Infrastructure&Cities Sector. With roughly 87,000 employees, the Sector provides sustainabletechnologies forurban areas and their infrastructures.
Following its inauguration, the Crystal will serve as the venue for twoconferences. On September 20, the UN Habitat program will bring together municipal decision-makersandcity planners at a conference entitled Urban Planning for City Leaders. On September 21,participants at the future-oriented Digital Life Design Cities conference, sponsored by HubertBurda Media,will address questions relating to sustainable urban development and visions forsmartcities.
Encompassing an area of more than 6,300 square meters, the Crystal is aparagonof energy efficiency. The facility consumes 50 percent less power and emits 65percentless carbon dioxide than comparable office buildings. Renewable energy sources meet theCrystal’sheating and cooling needs, a photovoltaic system generates green electricity, andrainwateris harvested for use. On the BREEAM and LEED international assessments forenergy-efficientbuildings, the Crystal will receive top scores (Outstanding and Platinum, respectively)–making it one of the greenest facilities in the world./.
The crystal-shaped building will serve as a conferencecenter,urban dialogue platform and technology and innovation center all in one, bringingtogetherpolitical decision-makers, infrastructure experts and the general public in ordertodevelop concepts for the future of cities and their infrastructures.
“Cities are theengines ofthe world economy and also have the greatest impact on the environment. Thedevelopment ofour planet will stand or fall with the development of cities. Looking aheadto theurban future, the Crystal showcases a wide variety of opportunities and concretesolutions,”said Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher at the opening ceremony.
After a construction phase of about a year and a half, the Crystalbrings anarchitectural highlight and one of the world’s greenest buildings to the British capital.Siemensinvested some €35 million in the project.
Designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, the buildingfeatures a270-seat auditorium as well as the world’s largest exhibition on urban sustainability.Boasting anarea of 2,000 square meters, the exhibition presents existing infrastructure solutions thatmake lifein cities more sustainable and environmentally friendly while enhancing its quality. AttheCrystal, experts from the Siemens Center of Competence Cities engage in research anddevelopmentgeared to technologies and innovations for tomorrow’s urban infrastructures. Inaddition,the Infrastructure & Cities Sector will coordinate its City Account Managers from theCrystal.
“Cities worldwide are making investments to improve their watersupplies, powergrids, transportation systems and building infrastructures. Our addressablemarketalone has a volume of €300 billion. In this growth market, the Crystal will help us intensifydialoguewith our customers.
The Crystal is our Sector’s showcase, contact point and mastermind,”notedRoland Busch, member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and CEO of the Infrastructure&Cities Sector. With roughly 87,000 employees, the Sector provides sustainabletechnologies forurban areas and their infrastructures.
Following its inauguration, the Crystal will serve as the venue for twoconferences. On September 20, the UN Habitat program will bring together municipal decision-makersandcity planners at a conference entitled Urban Planning for City Leaders. On September 21,participants at the future-oriented Digital Life Design Cities conference, sponsored by HubertBurda Media,will address questions relating to sustainable urban development and visions forsmartcities.
Encompassing an area of more than 6,300 square meters, the Crystal is aparagonof energy efficiency. The facility consumes 50 percent less power and emits 65percentless carbon dioxide than comparable office buildings. Renewable energy sources meet theCrystal’sheating and cooling needs, a photovoltaic system generates green electricity, andrainwateris harvested for use. On the BREEAM and LEED international assessments forenergy-efficientbuildings, the Crystal will receive top scores (Outstanding and Platinum, respectively)–making it one of the greenest facilities in the world./.
(Vietnam+)
