Renault Centre
{{Short description|Building in Swindon, England}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Renault Centre
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| image = The Spectrum Building, West Swindon - geograph.org.uk - 287906.jpg
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| former_names = Renault Distribution Centre
(until 2001)
| alternate_names = The Spectrum Building
(from 2001)
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| architectural_style = Structural expressionism
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| location = Rivermead Industrial Estate
| address = Westlea, West Swindon
| location_city = Swindon
| location_country = UK
| coordinates = {{coord|51.5669|-1.8243|type:landmark_region:GB-SWD|display=inline,title}}
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| groundbreaking_date = 27 July 1981
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| completion_date = December 1982
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| cost = {{GBP}}8,266,400 (1983 price)
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| client = Renault
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| height = 10m
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| size = 288m x 96m
| floor_area = 58,500 m2
| grounds_area = 16 acres
| architect =
| architecture_firm = Foster Associates
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| quantity_surveyor = Davis Belfield Everest
| main_contractor = Bovis Construction
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| designations = Grade II* listed
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The Renault Centre (or the Renault Distribution Centre) is a high tech{{cite web|last1=Buchanan|first1=Peter|title=High-Tech|url=http://www.architectural-review.com/1983-july-high-tech-by-peter-buchanan/8604479.article|website=Architectural Review|access-date=16 March 2015|date=July 1983}} building in Swindon commissioned by the French car company Renault for their UK operations. Designed by the British architect Norman Foster of Foster Associates, it opened in 1982 and Renault moved out in 2001.
Since 2001 the building has been known as The Spectrum Building.{{cite web|title=Spectrum building is awarded listed status|url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/10689766.Spectrum_building_is_awarded_listed_status/?ref=rss|website=Swindon Advertiser|access-date=16 March 2015|date=21 September 2013}} It was listed Grade II* by English Heritage in 2013.{{cite web|title=Swindon's 'View To A Kill' warehouse given listed status|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-24163811|website=BBC News|access-date=16 March 2015|date=10 September 2013}}{{NHLE|num=1416061|desc=The Spectrum Building, Swindon|access-date=13 April 2015}}
Design
File:Renault Distribution Centre 320290 922a517e (2).jpg
The architecture expressed not only the corporate ownership, through the yellow of Renault used on all the structural elements, but also promoted a modern statement on industrial relations by using the same roof over the warehouse and offices, making no distinction between white- and blue-collar workers.{{cite book|last1=Abel|first1=Chris|title=Renault Centre : Swindon, 1982 : Architect, Norman Foster|date=1991|publisher=Architecture Design and Technology Press|location=London|isbn=1854547763|edition=1. publ.}} The cable-stayed steel structural system provides a 24m column clear zone, with the columns being of only 450mm diameter.
Renault commissioned the building in 1980 after outgrowing their premises in Reading. Planning permission was granted in June 1981, construction commenced July 1981 and practical completion was achieved in December 1982.
The building won several awards in 1984 including the British Constructional Steelwork Association's Structural Steel Award,{{cite web|title=Structural Steel Design Awards 1969 - 2011|url=https://steelconstruction.info/SSDA_2018_-_50th_Anniversary_Year|website=Steel Construction Info|access-date=2022-05-08}} a Civic Trust Award and a Financial Times 'Architecture at Work' award.{{National Heritage List for England |num=1416061 |desc=The Spectrum Building (formerly the Renault Distribution Centre) |access-date=28 June 2023}} It also won Private Eye's Sir Hugh Casson Award for the worst new building of the year.Private Eye (602). 11 January 1985, p.9.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- {{cite web|title=Projects - Renault Distribution Centre|url=http://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/renault-distribution-centre/|publisher=Foster + Partners|access-date=13 April 2015}}
- {{cite web|title=Car seat supplier leases Spectrum|url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/8226161.Car_seat_supplier_leases_Spectrum/|publisher=Swindon Advertiser|access-date=19 September 2017}}
- {{cite web|title=Tyre firm moves into Swindon's iconic former Renault warehouse|url=http://swindon-business.net/index.php/2017/01/06/tyre-firm-moves-into-swindons-iconic-former-renault-warehouse/|publisher=Swindon Business News|access-date=19 September 2017}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:High-tech architecture
Category:Foster and Partners buildings
Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Wiltshire
Category:Buildings and structures in Swindon
Category:Recipients of Civic Trust Awards
Category:1982 establishments in England
Category:The Twentieth Century Society successful interventions