Member Article

Here East innovation centre sets benchmark for connectivity

The new innovation centre and creative campus currently taking shape on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has been awarded the highest possible rating from an international digital connectivity scheme.

Here East, which is set to become Europe’s biggest centre for innovation, has received a Platinum from WiredScore, in recognition of the world-class digital infrastructure at the site.

Joining the likes of the The Shard and the Leadenhall Building in London, along with the Empire State Building in New York, the certification puts Here East in the company of some of the world’s most recognisable buildings and draws upon the site’s connected legacy as the Olympic broadcasting centre.

Work to turn part of the site into a centre for London’s makers has been ongoing since 2014, with ENTIQ appointed in the summer to run the 70,000 sq ft centre by the Olympic legacy committee.

The firm launched the centre under the moniker Plexal at the end of October, ahead of its grand opening in mid-2017, where it will provide space, accelerator programmes, prototyping facilities and more for London’s startups.

The site’s creative campus currently hosts the likes of BT Sport, Loughborough University and UCL. Data centre firm Infinity SDC are set to deliver 240,000 sq ft data centre at the site as well.

Commenting on the certification, Gavin Poole, Chief Executive of Here East described the building as ‘world-class’ and believes it fitting that it has received the highest connectivity rating possible.

He said: “We are one of the most connected buildings in Europe, where makers, entrepreneurs and technology experts will come together to experiment, build and create – We pride ourselves on our ability to connect, not just through the fibre cables running below our feet but through our vision to bring people together to share ideas and to foster innovation.”

The WireScore initiative was originally launched in partnership with the Bloomberg administration in New York in 2013, but was adopted by the former Mayor of London in 2015 to help drive digital connectivity in the capital.

William Newton, EMEA Director, WiredScore, commended the building as one of the most connected in Europe and said that the flexibility and diversity of its internet provision is one of the many aspects that sets the building apart.

He said: “Both the Broadcast Centre and Press Centre have achieved Wired Certified Platinum for Development and Redevelopment, WiredScore’s highest digital connectivity rating.

“This means that current and future tenants can be confident that they are investing in an office space which will allow their business to grow and succeed – whatever their future technology needs.”