Here East

Here East
Name	Here East
Location	Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London
Status	Developed
Start date	2013
Completion date	2014
Opened	2014
Owner	Network Homes / British Land (formerly)
Floor area	approx. 1,600,000 sq ft
Architect	WilkinsonEyre (former), Allies and Morrison (campus masterplan)
Developer	Ei Group (developer consortium)
Main contractors	Balfour Beatty (Olympic delivery), contractors for fit-out

Here East is a technology, innovation and education campus located in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London. It occupies a converted media and broadcast complex originally built for the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, repurposed into office, research, and studio space intended to foster collaborations among technology firms, higher education institutions, creative industries, and sport organisations. The site forms part of wider regeneration initiatives in east London associated with the 2012 Games and ongoing urban renewal projects.

History

The complex was built as the broadcast and press centre for the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Paralympics, providing technical facilities to broadcasters such as the British Broadcasting Corporation, Sky UK, and international media organisations including NBCUniversal and China Central Television. Following decommissioning, ownership and redevelopment plans involved stakeholders like International Quarter London, Vita Group, and investment vehicles associated with St James's Investment Trust and later purchasers. The conversion into a tech campus was guided by proposals from design teams with previous commissions for Olympic Park Legacy Company projects and was influenced by regeneration strategies promoted by the London Legacy Development Corporation. The site re-opened to tenants in phases from 2014, attracting anchors from Loughborough University, UCL (University College London), and corporate partners. Its adaptation reflects precedents in media campus repurposing such as the transformation of the Docklands warehouses and reuse projects connected to the 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Architecture and Facilities

The main buildings include repurposed structures originally designed for broadcast operations, characterised by large-span halls, high loading capacities, and modular studios suited to conversion by architectural firms with experience on projects like WilkinsonEyre and Allies and Morrison. Facilities feature flexible studio floors, data centre spaces, research labs fitted for partnerships with institutions such as Imperial College London spin-outs, and advanced audiovisual infrastructure compatible with partners including BT Group and Arqiva. Onsite amenities incorporate collaboration hubs, event auditoria, maker spaces, and incubation suites similar in function to those at Google Campus London and TechHub. The campus also provides laboratory and testing environments catering to hardware innovators and sport science groups linked to UK Sport and professional clubs.

Major Tenants and Uses

Anchors and notable occupants have included university bodies like Loughborough University and University College London, commercial operators such as BT Group, esports and gaming entities comparable to Fnatic-class organisations, and creative media companies in the vein of Endemol Shine Group and Red Bee Media. Sports technology and performance labs host partnerships with bodies like English Institute of Sport affiliates and professional clubs from the Premier League for analytics development. Research, education and start-up incubation spaces serve cohorts connected to funding bodies such as Innovate UK, venture capital firms including Balderton Capital and Index Ventures-backed ventures, and accelerator programmes modelled on Techstars and Entrepreneur First. Co-working operators and media production companies also occupy studio and office space to produce film, broadcast, and interactive content.

Transport and Accessibility

The campus benefits from proximity to major transport nodes including Stratford station, which interconnects London Underground lines such as the Central line and Jubilee line, regional services like Greater Anglia, and rapid transit provided by Docklands Light Railway. Stratford International and connections to High Speed 1 enable links to continental services via St Pancras International. Road access is served by the A12 and A11 corridors and links to the North Circular Road. Cycling and pedestrian routes connect the site with neighbouring cultural venues such as the London Stadium and the V&A Museum of Childhood predecessor networks, while public realm improvements align with Transport for London's active travel initiatives.

Economic Impact and Regeneration

The redevelopment contributed to post-Olympic legacy goals championed by organisations like the London Legacy Development Corporation and local borough councils including Newham London Borough Council and Hackney London Borough Council. The project aimed to create jobs, attract investment, and stimulate innovation-led growth comparable to clusters like Silicon Roundabout and MediaCityUK. Economic effects include business rates revenue for local authorities, supply-chain contracts with firms such as Balfour Beatty and ISG, and workforce development partnerships with education providers like City, University of London and vocational training partners. The campus forms part of larger placemaking and housing impact discussions involving agencies such as Homes England and urban policy research by institutions like London School of Economics.

Events and Cultural Activities

The site hosts conferences, hackathons, esports tournaments, film and television production, and community outreach programmes tied to organisations like ScreenSkills and festival partners formerly involved in the Totally Thames Festival-style cultural calendar. Event spaces have accommodated industry gatherings partnered with trade bodies such as TechUK and [UKInteractive Entertainment (UKIE)-style associations, university open days, and public engagement activities aligned with festival programming from venues in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park including the London Aquatics Centre and Lee Valley VeloPark. Community and education events collaborate with charities and foundations such as Nesta and Prince's Trust to deliver skills workshops and entrepreneurship training.

Category:Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Newham