Pictured (left to right) are Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council; Gareth Daniel, Chief Executive of Brent Council; Paul Davies, Project Director, Skanska and Paul Chandler, Executive Vice President, Skanska UK, carrying out the official topping out of the new Brent Civic Centre. The ceremony, which took place on Friday 29th June, marks a key milestone in the development of the new facility for Brent Council staff and the wider community.
In December 2010, Skanska were awarded the £85 million project to construct the new Civic Centre, which covers a total area of around 40,000 square metres, and is located within the Wembley regeneration area opposite Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena Square. The building has been designed by Hopkins Architects to reinforce the sites prominent location.
Throughout construction, Skanska and Brent Council have lead the way in sustainable development to achieve Brent's aspiration to build the UK's first ‘BREEAM Outstanding' rated public building. To achieve this, Skanska is incorporating elements such as a CHP (combined heating power) run on waste fish oil, this generation unit will also provide the ability to feed spare power into the national grid, high performance facades, efficient building services, and rainwater recycling into the building.
Commenting, Paul Chandler, Executive Vice President of Skanska UK said, ”Today’s topping out marks a significant step in the construction of the new Civic Centre for Brent Council and the community it will serve.
“Skanska’s aim is to be the global leading green developer and contractor. We cannot achieve our goal alone. To do this, we need the support of our clients and the supply chain. We are delighted to be working with Brent on this project, they truly are a client that has inspired and driven the delivery of the UK’s first BREEAM Outstanding rated public building. This is a vision we share.”
Speaking at today’s ceremony, Councillor Muhammed Butt said, “The Topping Out ceremony signifies how close we are to the completion of the Civic Centre and being here today you can truly sense what an amazing building this will be. The Civic Centre will be a building for the whole community and be reflective of the borough’s diversity and talent”.
Gareth Daniel, Brent Council's Chief Executive, commented: “I would like to thank all those who have been involved in the Civic Centre project and have brought us to this final stage of construction. From now on it is all systems go, and we will be gathering pace in preparing for the move to the Civic Centre and the official opening ceremony next year. The Civic Centre represents a new beginning for the borough and symbolises Brent as a modern and forward thinking organisation. It will be a dynamic building and a hub for the community”.
David Selby, Senior Partner at Hopkins Architects said, “As the major new centrepiece of the Wembley regeneration area, the Brent Civic Centre ensures the Council's vision for a single community building that consolidates civic, public and administrative functions onto one site is realised.
“Our design was born as the result of a highly collaborative process with a large number of stakeholders and is thus a rich and accurate reflection of the depth and diversity of the local community. Together with our many partners on the project, Hopkins Architects are extremely proud to be helping to make the Council’s goals and aspirations a built reality.”
David Reed, Project Manager, client’s representative Turner & Townsend said, "This is a major milestone in the Brent Civic Centre Project. Turner & Townsend are delighted to be helping to deliver this landmark scheme which, when complete, will be the most energy efficient and sustainable public building in the UK - a building for the future of Brent".