The £8.5 million building will be a national centre of excellence for the sustainable construction and green technologies industries. The scheme will provide accommodation, support and advice for up to 60 new and inventive businesses in the sector.
The iCon will be a beacon of energy efficiency in its own right, using renewable energy and incorporating innovative design features that reduce the need for heating and air conditioning. It will feature 60 small offices, a conference hall for up to 300 people, an exhibition space, a public piazza, and a café/restaurant. It will also be home to the East Midlands' Sustainable Construction Innovation Network (iNet), which has been established to support construction businesses in the region. Northampton based contractors Winvic Build are constructing the iCon. They started work started in Summer 2009 and are due to complete the project in Spring 2011.
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A different style of roof covers the incubation units, central atrium, and conference centre, all of which contribute to the building's green credentials. The central atrium will have its own 'micro climate', acting as a heat store in winter and providing ventilation in summer. Its roof is made of an inflatable plastic 'ETFE' membrane, a high performance material which has been used on acclaimed developments including the Eden project and Beijing watercube.
Mike Carr, Executive Director of Business Services at East Midlands Development Agency (emda), said: "iCon will be a tremendous asset to the construction industry in the East Midlands and the wider country as a whole. emda has set up the Sustainable Construction iNet and is funding iCon in recognition of the importance of the construction industry to the region and to encourage our businesses to develop and exploit innovative ideas that will allow them to grow more quickly in the future."
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