Remember the British Empire Exhibition of 1924? Brent Civic Centre now stands where the Palace of Industry once stood for that exhibition. This is no ordinary building. Brent Civic Centre serves as the headquarters for the Brent London Borough Council.
Opened in 2013 the Brent Civic Centre replaced the old Brent Town Hall. The former headquarters were a mile north on Forty Lane. Hopkins Architects designed this modern marvel. Skanska handled the construction. The entire project cost about £75 million.
Let’s step inside this nine-story glass structure. Notice the large atrium. It is designed to impress. See that circular drum? It is clad in timber. Inside, it holds a council chamber, community hall and a library. The atrium is 30 metres high. It doubles as an events venue. The wide staircase has seating. It functions as a grandstand. The building acts as a community hub. There are two cafés, entertainment spaces and meeting rooms. Even a wedding garden exists here. A journalist described the Civic Centre. They said it was like the parliament of a small nation state.
Brent Civic Centre brought together 2,000 council staff. They were previously scattered across 14 locations. Now, most council services operate from this central location. The archives department stayed at The Library at Willesden Green.
Did you know Brent Civic Centre earned a BREEAM Outstanding rating? Its design reduces carbon emissions by a third. Solar shading and natural ventilation help. A combined cooling, heating and power system uses waste fish oil.
In May 2015, an unexpected event occurred. Construction workers found an unexploded Luftwaffe bomb. It dated back to World War II. The bomb weighed 50 kilograms. The building had to be evacuated.
Brent Civic Centre is more than just a town hall. It is the UK’s greenest public office building. It received a BREEAM rating of 92.55%. Sustainable materials are everywhere. A green transport plan promotes cycling. Rainwater harvesting is in place. The building also uses waste vegetable oil for power.
The building boasts exquisite steelwork. Steel is prominent in the architectural scheme. The south-facing façade is fully glazed. It is supported by a cable truss system. The nine-storey drum-shaped civic building is breathtaking. Open terraces surround it. A central lantern feature sits in the centre.
The public enters through the full-height atrium. ETFE pillows top it. These are the same plastic material used at the Eden Project. A grand set of steps rises to the council services. The civic drum houses the library and community hall. There is also a café, council chambers and shops.
The building can neatly accommodate up to 2,300 staff. It’s a functional welcoming and inspiring space. Brent Civic Centre is a hub for the community. It provides much-needed services. It is more than just a building. It is a symbol of progress and community spirit in Wembley Park. It has served residents and the council well over the past decade.