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IBM North Harbour

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IBM North Harbour
Seen in July 2005
IBM North Harbour is located in Hampshire
IBM North Harbour
Location within Hampshire
General information
StatusClosed
TypeComputer company headquarters
Architectural styleConcrete
LocationPO6 3AU
Coordinates50°50′35″N 1°05′06″W / 50.843°N 1.085°W / 50.843; -1.085
Elevation10 m (33 ft)
Current tenantsIBM
Completed1976
Inaugurated3 December 1976
Closed31 October 2024
Cost£17.2m
ClientIBM
Dimensions
Other dimensions125 acres
Technical details
Floor count4
Floor area360,000 sq ft
Design and construction
Architect(s)Arup Associates
Structural engineerArup Associates
Main contractorTaylor Woodrow Construction

IBM North Harbour is the former headquarters of IBM in the UK. The site is now a larger business park, Lakeside North Harbour, and IBM is no longer present at the site.

History

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IBM sold the main building in 2005. In November 2015 IBM sold two more buildings. In October 2024 IBM left the North Harbour site and moved its Headquarters to IBM Hursley.

Construction

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The site was chosen in 1969, and drained during 1971 under direction of Grontmij N.V. of the Netherlands. In 1972 construction of the lake took place, directly bounded to the south by the construction of the M27 embankment. The foundations were built in 1973, with 30 m-deep piles. The building was formed with pre-cast concrete sections, built on the piles.

Structural engineering and architecture was by Arup Associates. It was built by Taylor Woodrow Construction.[1] It cost £17.2m.

Opening

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Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh opened the site on Friday 3 December 1976.[2] The Prince had flown by aircraft, being met by William Harris, 6th Earl of Malmesbury, the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire.

IBM also had ten acres at Interchange Park, a nearby manufacturing plant, which opened in 1967.[3]

Visits

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Structure

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The site is accessed via the A27, at the terminus of M27. Cosham railway station is within walking distance, to the east. It is next to junction 12 of the M27.

A Porsche retail centre opened nearby in 2012, on the site. In 2012 three acres near Porsche were sold for a 124-bed hotel.

Tenants

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IBM UK

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In early the 1990s, IBM employed 14,000 people in the UK

Chief executives of IBM UK are

  • 1986 Sir Tony Cleaver[5]
  • 1992 Nick Temple [6]
  • 1997 Khalil Barsoum (Canadian)
  • 2000 Kevin Loosemore
  • June 2001 Larry Hirst
  • April 2008 Brendon Riley (Australian)
  • January 2010 Stephen Leonard
  • 2012 David Stokes (Australian)
  • May 2017 Bill Kelleher
  • January 2023 Nicola Hodson (born 17 December 1966)
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Times Friday December 3 1976, page 3
  2. ^ Times Friday December 3 1976, page 19
  3. ^ Times Tuesday October 2 1984, page 24
  4. ^ Times Friday April 10 1992, page 18
  5. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Monday 30 September 1985, page 8
  6. ^ Manchester Evening News Wednesday 22 January 1992, page 23
  7. ^ 1985 TV series