Amex House
Encyclopedia
Amex House, popularly nicknamed The Wedding Cake, is the European headquarters of American Express
, the multinational financial services
company. It is located in the Carlton Hill
area of Brighton
, part of the English city of Brighton and Hove. The nine-floor building, designed by American architecture firm Gollins, Melvin, Ward & Partners, was commissioned by the company in 1977 to consolidate their operations in Brighton, which had been spread over several sites. The white and blue structure, a landmark on the city skyline, has received both praise and criticism for its distinctive style. It is expected to be demolished by 2016 after a new building on the spare land on the site is completed; redevelopment work started in 2010, and the company hopes to move into the replacement building in 2012.
. New residential areas were developed around the core of the old fishing village of Brighthelmston. Rich visitors and residents were housed in set-piece Regency
squares and terraces on the seafront, but the large number of poor people attracted to the town from across Sussex
and beyond by the prospect of work lived in the smaller terraced streets of new suburbs on the surrounding hillsides. One of these—and the most poverty-stricken and densely populated—was Carlton Hill, an area east of Old Steine and the Royal Pavilion
and separated from the higher-class seafront development by Edward Street. This road, leading east towards Kemp Town
and Black Rock
, was a major shopping area in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but the area declined after World War II and much of the northern side was cleared between the 1950s and the 1970s. Road widening took up some of the released land, but large areas were still available for redevelopment in the 1960s and 1970s.
American Express had a longstanding presence in Brighton and elsewhere in Sussex
, and in 1968 they moved their Mechanical Accounting division on to one site—an office building (previously owned by another company) on Edward Street. As the firm's European operations grew, it sought a larger, purpose-built office in which to base its European headquarters. Land between the north side of Edward Street and Carlton Hill's main road (also called Carlton Hill) was available, and American Express acquired it and proposed the construction of a new office block as part of a major redevelopment scheme for the area. American architects Gollins, Melvin, Ward & Partners were commissioned in early 1977 to design the building. It opened on 15 September 1977, at a cost of between £10 million and £15 million, and was the first structure in England to use glass-reinforced plastic
(GRP) panels. The office was the base for the corporation's European customer service and card accounting operations. The layered effect of the series of white horizontal lines of GRP panels prompted the popular local nickname "The Wedding Cake".
By 2010, American Express was the largest private-sector employer
in the city of Brighton and Hove: about 3,000 people worked in the 300000 square foot Amex House building. The company was estimated to generate £300 million per year to the city's economy—about 7% of its total value. In the early 21st century, the company considered moving its operations away from Brighton; but in September 2008 it announced plans for a new headquarters building on land behind Amex House, which would eventually replace the 1970s building. The company bought the freehold of the land from Brighton and Hove City Council in May 2009; various conditions were attached, such as a requirement for American Express to stay in Brighton for the long term. Planning permission
for the new development was granted on 4 November 2009, with further conditions attached—in particular, American Express would have to give the neighbouring Carlton Hill Primary School £300,000 to compensate for the negative effect the new building would have on its playground, which would be overlooked. EPR Architects Ltd were awarded the design contract, and Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd
will build the new office.
Site clearance work for the new office, which is being built on Amex House's car park, began in January 2010. The site is about 375000 square foot, and the building will have about 200000 square foot of office space when complete. There will be an onsite gymnasium, parking for more than 100 cars and better vehicular access from the street. The sloping site means that the building will have nine storeys on one side but only five on the opposite side, and there will be basement space in addition. After the building is completed in about 2012, employees will be moved across to it and Amex House will be demolished; this is expected to happen by 2016.
Amex House is a local landmark, "dominat[ing] the sweep of Carlton Hill" and even (to one architectural historian) evoking Thunderbirds
. Its clean lines of contrasting blue-tinted glass and white GRP give the building an "emphatic horizontality" which is made less harsh by the substantial chamfer
ing of each corner and the set-back top storey. Although the building is large and visually dominant, it is not merely another tower block in an area which was extensively redeveloped with such buildings in the 1960s. It has instead been called "a much more successful addition to Edward Street than its contemporary neighbours", which include the law courts and Brighton's main police station, and "one of the most original of Brighton's modern buildings". Nevertheless, the building has been described as a "major intrusion" on the adjacent Carlton Hill conservation area, "significantly affect[ing] its setting".
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
, the multinational financial services
Financial services
Financial services refer to services provided by the finance industry. The finance industry encompasses a broad range of organizations that deal with the management of money. Among these organizations are credit unions, banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, consumer finance companies,...
company. It is located in the Carlton Hill
Carlton Hill, Brighton
Carlton Hill is an inner-city area of Brighton, part of the English city and seaside resort of Brighton and Hove. First developed in the early and mid-19th century on steeply sloping farmland east of central Brighton, it grew rapidly as the town became a fashionable, high-class destination...
area of Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, part of the English city of Brighton and Hove. The nine-floor building, designed by American architecture firm Gollins, Melvin, Ward & Partners, was commissioned by the company in 1977 to consolidate their operations in Brighton, which had been spread over several sites. The white and blue structure, a landmark on the city skyline, has received both praise and criticism for its distinctive style. It is expected to be demolished by 2016 after a new building on the spare land on the site is completed; redevelopment work started in 2010, and the company hopes to move into the replacement building in 2012.
History
Brighton grew rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries, prompted by its development into a fashionable seaside resortSeaside resort
A seaside resort is a resort, or resort town, located on the coast. Where a beach is the primary focus for tourists, it may be called a beach resort.- Overview :...
. New residential areas were developed around the core of the old fishing village of Brighthelmston. Rich visitors and residents were housed in set-piece Regency
Regency architecture
The Regency style of architecture refers primarily to buildings built in Britain during the period in the early 19th century when George IV was Prince Regent, and also to later buildings following the same style...
squares and terraces on the seafront, but the large number of poor people attracted to the town from across Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
and beyond by the prospect of work lived in the smaller terraced streets of new suburbs on the surrounding hillsides. One of these—and the most poverty-stricken and densely populated—was Carlton Hill, an area east of Old Steine and the Royal Pavilion
Royal Pavilion
The Royal Pavilion is a former royal residence located in Brighton, England. It was built in three campaigns, beginning in 1787, as a seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales, from 1811 Prince Regent. It is often referred to as the Brighton Pavilion...
and separated from the higher-class seafront development by Edward Street. This road, leading east towards Kemp Town
Kemp Town
Kemp Town is a 19th Century residential estate in the east of Brighton in East Sussex, England, UK. Kemp Town was conceived and financed by Thomas Read Kemp. It has given its name to the larger Kemptown region of Brighton....
and Black Rock
Black Rock (Brighton and Hove)
Black Rock is an area of wasteland located near Brighton Marina in the city of Brighton and Hove.-History:From at least the early 19th Century , Black Rock was the site of an inn and a few houses overlooking cliffs to the east of the then town of Brighton....
, was a major shopping area in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but the area declined after World War II and much of the northern side was cleared between the 1950s and the 1970s. Road widening took up some of the released land, but large areas were still available for redevelopment in the 1960s and 1970s.
American Express had a longstanding presence in Brighton and elsewhere in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, and in 1968 they moved their Mechanical Accounting division on to one site—an office building (previously owned by another company) on Edward Street. As the firm's European operations grew, it sought a larger, purpose-built office in which to base its European headquarters. Land between the north side of Edward Street and Carlton Hill's main road (also called Carlton Hill) was available, and American Express acquired it and proposed the construction of a new office block as part of a major redevelopment scheme for the area. American architects Gollins, Melvin, Ward & Partners were commissioned in early 1977 to design the building. It opened on 15 September 1977, at a cost of between £10 million and £15 million, and was the first structure in England to use glass-reinforced plastic
Glass-reinforced plastic
Fiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
(GRP) panels. The office was the base for the corporation's European customer service and card accounting operations. The layered effect of the series of white horizontal lines of GRP panels prompted the popular local nickname "The Wedding Cake".
By 2010, American Express was the largest private-sector employer
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
in the city of Brighton and Hove: about 3,000 people worked in the 300000 square foot Amex House building. The company was estimated to generate £300 million per year to the city's economy—about 7% of its total value. In the early 21st century, the company considered moving its operations away from Brighton; but in September 2008 it announced plans for a new headquarters building on land behind Amex House, which would eventually replace the 1970s building. The company bought the freehold of the land from Brighton and Hove City Council in May 2009; various conditions were attached, such as a requirement for American Express to stay in Brighton for the long term. Planning permission
Planning permission
Planning permission or planning consent is the permission required in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on land, or change the use of land or buildings. Within the UK the occupier of any land or building will need title to that land or building , but will also need "planning...
for the new development was granted on 4 November 2009, with further conditions attached—in particular, American Express would have to give the neighbouring Carlton Hill Primary School £300,000 to compensate for the negative effect the new building would have on its playground, which would be overlooked. EPR Architects Ltd were awarded the design contract, and Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd
Sir Robert McAlpine
Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd. is a private British company headquartered in London. It carries out engineering and construction for the oil and gas, petrochemical, power generation, nuclear, pharmaceutical, defence, chemical, water and mining industries.-History:...
will build the new office.
Site clearance work for the new office, which is being built on Amex House's car park, began in January 2010. The site is about 375000 square foot, and the building will have about 200000 square foot of office space when complete. There will be an onsite gymnasium, parking for more than 100 cars and better vehicular access from the street. The sloping site means that the building will have nine storeys on one side but only five on the opposite side, and there will be basement space in addition. After the building is completed in about 2012, employees will be moved across to it and Amex House will be demolished; this is expected to happen by 2016.
Architecture
The ModernistModern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
Amex House is a local landmark, "dominat[ing] the sweep of Carlton Hill" and even (to one architectural historian) evoking Thunderbirds
Thunderbirds (TV series)
Thunderbirds is a British mid-1960s science fiction television show devised by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and made by AP Films using a form of marionette puppetry dubbed "Supermarionation"...
. Its clean lines of contrasting blue-tinted glass and white GRP give the building an "emphatic horizontality" which is made less harsh by the substantial chamfer
Chamfer
A chamfer is a beveled edge connecting two surfaces. If the surfaces are at right angles, the chamfer will typically be symmetrical at 45 degrees. A fillet is the rounding off of an interior corner. A rounding of an exterior corner is called a "round" or a "radius"."Chamfer" is a term commonly...
ing of each corner and the set-back top storey. Although the building is large and visually dominant, it is not merely another tower block in an area which was extensively redeveloped with such buildings in the 1960s. It has instead been called "a much more successful addition to Edward Street than its contemporary neighbours", which include the law courts and Brighton's main police station, and "one of the most original of Brighton's modern buildings". Nevertheless, the building has been described as a "major intrusion" on the adjacent Carlton Hill conservation area, "significantly affect[ing] its setting".