The Crystal

The Crystal is an iconic building on Royal Victoria Dock in east London that contains a permanent exhibition about sustainable development.

The 18,000 square meter building is divided into a series of sectors or ‘crystals’. A mixed-mode ventilation strategy was specified so that, where seasonally possible, the office and exhibition is naturally ventilated using opening vents in the facades and roofs.

WindowMaster designed a system offering precise and intelligent three-speed control of 91 roof lights using 182 chain actuators. Intelligent control is provided by 24 MotorLink® panels which give two-way communication and position feedback to the Siemens BMS, allowing control and three-speed operation of roof lights through a KNX bus. The whole system is programmed by the BMS integrator.

The building is the first to achieve the highest sustainable building accolades from the world's two leading accreditation bodies, LEED and BREEAM, Platinum and Outstanding respectively. It is the most sustainable building in London.