The Building Centre facts for kids
The Building Centre is a special place in central London that helps share new and exciting ideas about how we build things and design our cities. It's like a showcase for everything related to buildings and the world around them. A charity called the Built Environment Trust runs it. This trust started in 2015, taking over from an older charity that began in 1963.
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How it Started
The Building Centre first opened its doors in 1932. It began in 1931 as a part of the Architectural Association, which is a famous school for architects. Its first leader was Frank Yerbury, who was a great photographer of buildings. The first person in charge of the board was Maurice Webb. The centre first opened at 158 New Bond Street in London.
Where it Has Been
The Building Centre stayed on New Bond Street until its building was sadly destroyed during The Blitz in 1941. The Blitz was when London was bombed a lot during World War II.
After that, the centre moved to Conduit Street. It stayed there until 1951. Then, it moved to its current home on Store Street. The building on Store Street was originally designed by architects Taperell and Haase. It was built to be a showroom for Daimler cars. The building is made of strong concrete and covered with Portland stone, which is a famous type of white stone.
Important People
Many important people have been involved with the Building Centre over the years. Here are a few:
- Sir Giles Gilbert Scott: He was the President from 1940 to 1959.
- Sir Basil Spence: He was the President from 1960 to 1968.
- Sir Frederick Gibberd: He was the President in 1969.
- Sir Alfred Hurst: He was the Chairman from 1940 to 1962.
Organisations at the Centre
Several important groups that work with buildings and the environment have offices at the Building Centre. These include:
- The Built Environment Trust (which runs the centre)
- The Construction Industry Council
- The Construction Products Association
- The UK Green Building Council
What You Can Do There Now
It's free to visit the galleries on the ground floor and lower ground floor of the Building Centre. You can see many cool exhibits there. There's also a cafe where you can get a snack or drink. The centre also has rooms that can be rented for different events and meetings.
Past Exhibitions
The Building Centre has hosted many interesting exhibitions over the years. Here are some early ones:
- 1933: A competition about designing three-bedroom cottages.
- 1936: An exhibition all about inn signs.
- 1936: An exhibition celebrating women in architecture.
- 1940: An exhibition called "Railings for Scrap," which was about collecting metal for the war effort.
