Carillion wins race to build London 2012 media centre

The IBC/MPC site has been cleared and is ready for construction

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A consortium of Carillion and regeneration developer Igloo today won the contract to build the media centre in London's Olympic Park.

The International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Centre (IBC/MPC), which will have 12HA of floor space, is one of the last of the major London 2012 venues to be tendered. Only the Velopark is now without a contractor.

In a breakdown of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) spending pans last year, the IBC/MPC together with the Athlete's Village was budgeted at £492M. However, the ODA today refused to confirm the price at which Carillion agreed to build the venue until planning permission is granted later this year.

"We now have world class teams in place to deliver four of the 'big five' Olympic Park venues," said ODA chief executive.

"The agreement to develop the IBC/MPC will represent a significant private sector investment into the regeneration of Hackney, which has some of the highest unemployment levels in the country. Carillion Igloo will bring a combined construction and regeneration excellence to create the media hub to transmit the London 2012 Games across the world but also to transform the venue into a vibrant and sustainable employment space in legacy."

During the Games the IBC/MPC will provide 20,000 of the world's print, wire, digital and TV media with state-of-the-art facilities to tell the story of the London 2012 Games to a global audience. The facilities will utilise the latest wind and solar power generation technology and will feature high-streets, studios, offices and a range of innovative temporary features, all staffed by a 1000 strong workforce.

In legacy, Carillion Igloo plan to utilise what is being provided for the Games as much as possible to ensure sustainable development. The developer plans to transform the site in legacy into creative media workshops, studios and offices and residential uses. The MPC offices will be available for occupation by a range of companies from major news organisations to smaller pre and post production film, television and new media firms.

In total it is hoped the venue will provide a legacy of over 8000 new jobs in Hackney.