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Town Planning
Iconic Award
Architect: Richard Seifert & Partners
D
esigned by engineering The units were bolted to each other and to the Centre Point, unlike many contemporary buildings
consultancy Pell Frischmann and concrete floor to become the load-bearing façade of the time, symbolises the versatility and optimism
architect Richard Seifert & Partners, of the building. Loads were also designed to be of Sixties engineering.
the Grade-II listed Centre Point carried by two pairs of concrete columns in the Dr Wilem Frischmann, Chairman of Pell
tower has won its first ever award, centre of the building. Advanced techniques have Frischmann, was a key engineer in the building’s
almost fifty years after it became an iconic ensured that the concrete structure would not design. “This award for Centre Point is long
landmark on London’s skyline. suffer from progressive decay and today Centre overdue. It was an exciting time and to this day I
The Concrete Society has awarded Centre Point’s concrete exterior looks much the same as am proud to be able to still look up and see what
Point its Certificate of Excellence for Mature it did nearly 50 years ago. we achieved. Centre Point has truly stood the test
Structures 2009. According to the Concrete of time.”
Society, “Centre Point surpassed the engineering
“An elegance worthy of a
Now, the onset of middle-age heralds the next
of its day and, even now, is a landmark in the stage in Centre Point’s life. The plaza and
city as well as a benchmark for modular
Wren Steeple”
surrounding area are being completely
construction methods”. redeveloped. The work is part of major transport
Constructed between 1963 and 1966 and Grade II listed in 1995, Centre Point has always expansion plans for London Underground and a
standing 117 m tall, the 32-storey Centre Point was attracted controversy. Leading architectural critic new Crossrail station.
one of the tallest pre-fabricated buildings in the of the time, Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, derided the Dr Wilem Frischman concludes, “Centre Point
world and one of the first to utilise pre-cast building as “coarse in the extreme”, in stark will soon form a focal part of a very important
concrete units. contrast to the Royal Fine Art Commission which transport interchange. Its evolution continues
Prefabricated precast-concrete, H-shaped units, later praised the building as having an “elegance ensuring that this London icon will be around for
were lifted into position by an internally sited crane worthy of a Wren steeple”. With few rust marks, many more years to come.”
designed to rise in height with the building. a distinctive silhouette and a fresh appearance,
Enquiry N
o
210
Enquire via:
Our online database Post using See inside back cover and
at www.cpbsonline.eu Enquiry Card Fax to 01435 863897
33
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