The Spectrum Building

Renault Centre
Interactive map of the Renault Centre area
Former namesRenault Distribution Centre
(until 2001)
Alternative namesThe Spectrum Building
(from 2001)
General information
Architectural styleStructural expressionism
LocationRivermead Industrial Estate, Westlea, West Swindon, Swindon, UK
Coordinates51°34′01″N 1°49′27″W / 51.5669°N 1.8243°W / 51.5669; -1.8243
Groundbreaking27 July 1981
CompletedDecember 1982
Cost£8,266,400 (1983 price)
ClientRenault
Height
Height10m
Technical details
Size288m x 96m
Floor area58,500 m2
Grounds16 acres
Design and construction
Architecture firmFoster Associates
Quantity surveyorDavis Belfield Everest
Main contractorBovis Construction
DesignationsGrade II* listed

The Spectrum Building (formerly the Renault Distribution Centre) is a high tech[1] building in Swindon, England, commissioned by the French car company Renault for their UK operations. Designed by the British architect Norman Foster of Foster Associates, it opened in 1982.

Renault moved out in 2001, and since then it has been known as The Spectrum Building.[2] It was listed Grade II* by English Heritage in 2013.

In 2025, the building was converted into an arsenal factory operated by the Portuguese military-industrial corporation Tekever for the production of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Design

The architecture expressed not only the corporate ownership, through the yellow of Renault used on all the structural elements, but also promoted a modern statement on industrial relations by using the same roof over the warehouse and offices, making no distinction between white- and blue-collar workers.[3] The cable-stayed steel structural system provides a 24m column-clear zone, with the columns being of only 450mm diameter.

Renault commissioned the building in 1980 after outgrowing their premises in Reading. Planning permission was granted in June 1981, construction commenced July 1981 and practical completion was achieved in December 1982.

The building won several awards in 1984 including the British Constructional Steelwork Association's Structural Steel Award,[4] a Civic Trust Award and a Financial Times 'Architecture at Work' award.[5] It also won Private Eye's Sir Hugh Casson Award for the worst new building of the year.[6]

History

In 1983, the building was officially opened by the French Minister of Consumer Affairs, Catherine Lalumière.[7]

In 1985 the building featured in the James Bond film A View to a Kill.[8]

The facility was closed in 2001 when Renault ended its operations in Swindon.[8][9]

In 2013, the building was Grade II* listed by Historic England.[10][11]

In late 2023, it was reported that the building would undergo a £4.7m renovation, funded by AEW Capital Management.[12]

In September 2025, Minister of Defence John Healey announced that the site would be converted into a military drone manufacturing facility operated by Tekever, expected to open in 2026 as identified in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review.[13][14]

Since 2022, the UK government has purchased over £270m of Tekever drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[15][16] The 254,000 square foot site would contain research and development offices, as well as a full production line.[17] This follows Tekever's acquisition of the experimental airfield at ParcAberporth in Ceredigion, Wales. Production of Tekever AR3 and AR5 drones is planned. The nearby Yatesbury Airfield and the Science and Innovation Park in Wroughton would also be used for validation and test flights.[18]

References

  1. ^ Buchanan, Peter (July 1983). "High-Tech". Architectural Review. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Spectrum building is awarded listed status". Swindon Advertiser. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  3. ^ Abel, Chris (1991). Renault Centre : Swindon, 1982 : Architect, Norman Foster (1. publ. ed.). London: Architecture Design and Technology Press. ISBN 1854547763.
  4. ^ "Structural Steel Design Awards 1969 - 2011". Steel Construction Info. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  5. ^ Historic England. "The Spectrum Building (formerly the Renault Distribution Centre) (1416061)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  6. ^ Private Eye (602). 11 January 1985, p.9.
  7. ^ "The Renault Building, Norman Foster design & James Bond location | SwindonWeb". www.swindonweb.com. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  8. ^ a b "History of iconic Renault building used in Bond film". This Is Wiltshire. 2025-09-15. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  9. ^ "Shaping up to controversy". The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. 2001-09-11. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  10. ^ Historic England. "The Spectrum Building, Swindon (1416061)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  11. ^ "Swindon's 'View To A Kill' warehouse given listed status". BBC News. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  12. ^ "Iconic building used in James Bond film to undergo multimillion makeover". Swindon Advertiser. 2023-07-29. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  13. ^ "New drone factory to open in Swindon, creating skilled jobs and strengthening British manufacturing". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  14. ^ Hoyle, Craig. "Tekever's UK UAV output to soar with £400m 'Overmatch' investment". Flight Global. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  15. ^ "Что за португальский дрон AR3, который мог атаковать РЛС «Воронеж-ДМ»". NEWS.ru (in Russian). 2024-05-28. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  16. ^ Rani, Archana (2025-04-08). "TEKEVER opens Ukraine arm to boost defence support, innovation". Airforce Technology. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  17. ^ "Tekever boosts UK support with new drone factory". DSEI 2025. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  18. ^ "Tekever to open major UK drone factory". Default. 2025-09-16. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  • Media related to The Spectrum Building at Wikimedia Commons
  • "Projects - Renault Distribution Centre". Foster + Partners. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  • "Car seat supplier leases Spectrum". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  • "Tyre firm moves into Swindon's iconic former Renault warehouse". Swindon Business News. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
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