Newham Mag issue 241 (pdf)

As eyes turn to Newham this summer, we welcome massive investment in
the historic Royal Docks. This aspect of Games legacy will breathe new life
into the area that once bustled with business, driving investment in the
south of the borough and bringing new pride to Newham.
The view of the Crystal from the waterside
One of the big players coming to
our waterside is technology giant
Siemens. Its pioneering sustainable
development, the Crystal, will form
part of a Green Enterprise District, a
showcase for green technology that
will keep the world’s eyes focused on
us. Every last detail of the building has
been made as environmentally friendly
as possible, including charging stations
for electric cars that will be available to
the public.
Locally, the Crystal will create up to
50 jobs when it opens later this year.
It will host a free public exhibition,
hoping to attract 100,000 visitors
per year to the area. It will contain a
restaurant, café and shop, as well as
a debate forum that will invite schools
An internal view of the
Crystal taking shape
and members of the local community
to take part in conversations about the
future of cities. Outside the building,
there will be community gardens,
which will provide the opportunity for
residents to put their green fi ngers to
good use.
Making it crystal clear
How is the Crystal so environmentally
friendly? We’ve broken it down for you.
On the button
Left the lights on overnight? No
problem. The building can be managed
by one person from anywhere in the
world, which means that energy use
can be minimised when there’s a
greater need for it elsewhere locally.
Wind of change
Natural ventilation in the building
means free cooling, avoiding the need
for air conditioning. During hot days,
heat is taken from the building and
stored in the ground for re-use during
cooler weather.
Hitting the roof
Roof panels collect the sun’s energy,
producing electricity which is used
throughout the building – for example,
to heat water in the restaurants.
When it rains, you pour
Rainwater will be collected and treated
for use as drinking water.
No money down the pan
All water used in the building, including
Solar panels being installed
on the roof of the Crystal
what is used to fl ush toilets, will be
treated and re-used in the toilets and
for watering the gardens around the
building.
Hot stuff
Stored heat will be taken from the
ground and used to heat the building
when it’s cold. Glazing on the windows
and insulated roofi ng keeps heat in
during winter and out during summer.
Green giant
There will be a strip of trees and shrubs
planted along the boundary with
Silvertown Way, providing a natural
noise buffer. Plants and trees have
been specially chosen to withstand
drought, so less water is needed to
keep them alive, while the drainage
system minimises the amount of water
running into sewers and into the dock.
Lightbulb moment
The building was designed to use the
wonderful natural light on the docks
as much as possible, so people inside
won’t rely so heavily on electricity.
Find out more about the Games in Newham, including legacy, by visiting www.newham.gov.uk/
2012Games Find out more about the Crystal by visiting www.thecrystal.org
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