RCA building topped out

This morning inventor James Dyson scaled the roof of the Royal College of Art’s new building in Battersea. The ‘topping out’ ceremony marked the completion of the highest point of the new Dyson building, to which the James Dyson Foundation has donated £5 million.

Having performed the topping out over impressive views of London and the River Thames, Sir James called for increased protection of design and engineering degree courses. As fees are hiked, and universities squeezed by budget cuts, he will emphasise the importance of protecting excellence in design and technology.

The building will provide a lecture theatre, gallery space, studios and 40 business incubator units – that will encourage the UK’s next generation of design engineers to take the plunge and start their own ventures.

The idea of supporting good ideas with business expertise stems from James Dyson’s own experience as an inventor who was determined to develop bagless vacuum technology and launch a business in a recession.

James Dyson said:

“As a nation we’ve become too scared to take risks, but it’s through experimentation and failure that new ideas are born. Young people need confidence to be inventive and the support to be bold.

The RCA’s incubator units will provide the right environment, resources and moral support for new start-up ideas at the time when they are most fragile. Now more than ever, the UK needs to create and export inventions the world wants to buy.”

The Rector of the Royal College of Art, Dr Paul Thompson said:

“Today marks the realisation of the vision of so many members of the RCA community as we make this building a reality, ensuring that students, staff and design entrepreneurs can learn and work in state-of-the-art facilities.