Fire strikes Metropolitan Works



A fire at London Metropolitan University’s new Creative Industries Centre on Commercial Road has caused ‘substantial damage’ and major disruption.



Everyone was safely evacuated from the site, following the blaze at the London Metropolitan Works site and neighbouring London Metropolitan University buildings on Wednesday, although damage caused by the flames and sprinkler system mean that staff will be unable to return to Commercial Road for several weeks.



Metropolitan Works’ employee Vicky Creevey was among those evacuated from the building. She says, ‘I saw smoke and big flames coming from the building itself, but fire engines arrived very quickly, which minimised the extent of the damage.’



It is thought that the fire started on the building site of the new Creative Industries Centre, which was nearing completion. However, Metropolitan Works is yet to receive an official report on the cause of the blaze.



Creevey says, ‘It was awful to see everybody’s hard work go up in flames – particularly as the building was almost finished. But we are determined to come back bigger and stronger than before – and hopefully we will soon begin a programme for the rebuild.’



Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Works team is being rehoused in temporary office space on Whitechapel High Street at their nearby jewellery manufacturing centre.



Despite this considerable setback the centre is remaining open, but offering only limited services, including consultation, CAD work, 3D scanning, 3D printing, laser welding and perfatory rapid prototyping in resin.



For regular updates visit Metropolitan Works’ Latest News page at www.metropolitanworks.org.

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