Television Centre | |
---|---|
Former names | BBC Television Centre |
Alternative names | BBC Studioworks Television Centre |
General information | |
Type | Television production (1960–2013, 2017–present), mixed commercial and residential usage (2012–present) |
Architectural style | Minimalist |
Location | West side of Wood Lane (A219) in White City, opposite Wood Lane tube station |
Address | White City, W12 7RJ |
Country | England |
Coordinates | 51°30′36″N 0°13′35″W / 51.5099°N 0.2263°W |
Elevation | 6 m (20 ft) |
Current tenants | BBC Studios BBC Studioworks |
Completed | 29 June 1960 |
Inaugurated | 29 June 1960 |
Renovated | 2013–18 |
Cost | £10 million adjusted by inflation: £153 million |
Owner | BBC (1949–2013) AIMCo (2013–present) |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 8 (above ground) |
Floor area | 14 acres (56,656 m2) |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Graham Dawbarn AHMM |
Architecture firm | Norman & Dawbarn |
Structural engineer | Marmaduke T. Tudsbery |
Main contractor | Higgs and Hill (superstructure), George Wimpey (foundations) |
Website | |
televisioncentre |
Television Centre (TVC), formerly known as BBC Television Centre, is a building complex in White City, West London, which was the headquarters of BBC Television from 1960 to 2013, when BBC Television moved to Broadcasting House. After a refurbishment, the complex reopened in 2017 with three studios in use for TV production, operated by BBC Studioworks. The first BBC staff moved into the Scenery Block in 1953, and the centre was officially opened on 29 June 1960. It is one of the most readily recognisable facilities of its type, having appeared as the backdrop for many BBC programmes. Parts of the building are Grade II listed, including the central ring and Studio 1.
Most of the BBC's national television and radio news output came from Television Centre, and in later years most recorded television was output from the nearby Broadcast Centre at 201 Wood Lane, care of Red Bee Media. Live television events from studios and routing of national and international sporting events took place within Television Centre before being passed to the Broadcast Centre for transmission.
The building is 4 miles (6 kilometres) west of central London, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The nearest Underground stations are White City on the Central Line and Wood Lane on the Circle and Hammersmith & City Lines.