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PLEXAL: The quirky innovation centre with a 'high street' that's being set up in London's £150 million tech hub

PLEXAL: The quirky innovation centre with a 'high street' that's being set up in London's £150 million tech hub

Plexal sits within the larger Here East complex, which is a £150 million development being built on the western fringe of the Olympic Park.

PLEXAL: The quirky innovation centre with a 'high street' that's being set up in London's £150 million tech hub

Here East (originally called iCity) is a short walk from several train stations including Hackney Wick, Stratford International, and Stratford Underground.

Here East (originally called iCity) is a short walk from several train stations including Hackney Wick, Stratford International, and Stratford Underground.

The Here East project, which was announced in 2013, involves turning the former Olympic press and broadcast centres into new spaces for technology companies, universities, startups, and creatives.

The Here East project, which was announced in 2013, involves turning the former Olympic press and broadcast centres into new spaces for technology companies, universities, startups, and creatives.

Plexal, which was named by an East London branding agency, will sit within the former press centre, which spans four floors and overlooks the River Lea.

Plexal, which was named by an East London branding agency, will sit within the former press centre, which spans four floors and overlooks the River Lea.

"Plexal is a neural network," said Cockerton. "It’s a word for a collection of nodes and synapses and collections of networks. So it’s very much trying to embody the concept of connectivity and also humanity."

"Plexal is a neural network," said Cockerton. "It’s a word for a collection of nodes and synapses and collections of networks. So it’s very much trying to embody the concept of connectivity and also humanity."

"The whole focus of our space is on connected devices and we’re focusing on sport, health, fashion and IoT technologies," said Cockerton.

"The whole focus of our space is on connected devices and we’re focusing on sport, health, fashion and IoT technologies," said Cockerton.

Startups based out of Plexal will be treated to views of the Olympic Stadium, which is now used by West Ham Football Club.

Startups based out of Plexal will be treated to views of the Olympic Stadium, which is now used by West Ham Football Club.

Plexal will initially be on the first floor of the Press Centre but Cockerton said she has ambitions to take over other floors.

Plexal will initially be on the first floor of the Press Centre but Cockerton said she has ambitions to take over other floors.

Plexal membership prices will start from £200 for a basic coworking space and rise to over £400 for a premium private office. Cockerton claims that the entry price is lower than what's on offer from startup space providers in Central London.

Plexal membership prices will start from £200 for a basic coworking space and rise to over £400 for a premium private office. Cockerton claims that the entry price is lower than what

This is what Plexal currently looks like. Over the next few months, Entiq and Delancey will kit the place out with furniture and offices.

This is what Plexal currently looks like. Over the next few months, Entiq and Delancey will kit the place out with furniture and offices.

These architectural plans give you an idea of what Plexal will be like when it's finished. "We’re designing it [Plexal] as a little mini city," said Cockerton. "It lent itself really well to having a high street right down the middle section. I thought where does innovation happen? Innovation happens in market places, in souks. On these high streets."

These architectural plans give you an idea of what Plexal will be like when it

A mezzanine is being built on top of the private offices as a way of utilising all of the space available. "A company can choose to take either their own private roof terrace or they can just have the bottom unit," said Cockerton, adding that units can accommodate between four and 30 people.

A mezzanine is being built on top of the private offices as a way of utilising all of the space available. "A company can choose to take either their own private roof terrace or they can just have the bottom unit," said Cockerton, adding that units can accommodate between four and 30 people.

There will be 300-350 coworking seats at Plexal and capacity for up to 600 members, according to Cockerton. "It will include a mix of open communal space where people would gather. Park lands, events places, an industrial quarter, a maker’s lab, and different kinds of civic facilities. And then the private office space, which will exist on either side of the high street."

There will be 300-350 coworking seats at Plexal and capacity for up to 600 members, according to Cockerton. "It will include a mix of open communal space where people would gather. Park lands, events places, an industrial quarter, a maker’s lab, and different kinds of civic facilities. And then the private office space, which will exist on either side of the high street."

This is one of several other vast floors that Plexal could expand onto. The building is as long as the highest skyscraper in Canary Wharf, which happens to be where Cockerton used to work.

This is one of several other vast floors that Plexal could expand onto. The building is as long as the highest skyscraper in Canary Wharf, which happens to be where Cockerton used to work.

A large events space separates the press centre from the broadcast centre.

A large events space separates the press centre from the broadcast centre.

The courtyard features a number of green spaces and seating options.

The courtyard features a number of green spaces and seating options.

The broadcast centre — due to be finished by the end of 2017 — will feature dozens of units for Hackney's artists and creatives. Approximately half of the building will be taken up by a huge data centre belonging to data centre provider Infinity.

The broadcast centre — due to be finished by the end of 2017 — will feature dozens of units for Hackney

Some organisations have already moved into the broadcast building including BT Sport and Loughborough University, which has accepted 850 postgraduates since it opened in September.

Some organisations have already moved into the broadcast building including BT Sport and Loughborough University, which has accepted 850 postgraduates since it opened in September.

University College London is planning to is take possession of 3,000 square metres of 10 metres high studio space at Here East (in the former broadcast centre) in order to undertake research in areas including architecture, infrastructure, transport, robotics, healthcare, manufacturing, and environmental measurement.

University College London is planning to is take possession of 3,000 square metres of 10 metres high studio space at Here East (in the former broadcast centre) in order to undertake research in areas including architecture, infrastructure, transport, robotics, healthcare, manufacturing, and environmental measurement.

Cockerton compared the broadcast centre to Box Park in Shoreditch, which is a retail complex made up of several shipping containers.

Cockerton compared the broadcast centre to Box Park in Shoreditch, which is a retail complex made up of several shipping containers.

These giant rooms inside the former broadcast centre are being filled with thousands of servers.

These giant rooms inside the former broadcast centre are being filled with thousands of servers.

Those behind Plexal and Here East are hoping that the startups they nurture will one day go on to be as successful as the Team GB athletes that competed across the Olympic Park where their buildings now sit.

Those behind Plexal and Here East are hoping that the startups they nurture will one day go on to be as successful as the Team GB athletes that competed across the Olympic Park where their buildings now sit.

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