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In the post
2004 (election) environment this was the first government ministry
to be fully privatised. The new department, located in Southwark,
is run along similar lines to a members' only nightclub. The building
reflects a concern to retain a lively and loyal youth electorate.
There are still long queues on a Friday or Saturday night for the
regular Ministry post-party chill out sessions. It is currently the
only government building to utilise a cladding system known as ‘Smartslab’.
The material consists of a translucent honeycomb cladding panel with
a hexagonal light cell system. This allows for 24/7 illuminated display
of public information, digital artwork and celebrity computer animations.
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Hackers
have recently found some success in overiding the building's central computer
system in order to broadcast 'dis-art'. So far the only individuals with
password access, allowing them to overide the display system are government
ministers, the Royal Family and the Archbishop of Canterbury. Following
a recent debate in Parliament, a much larger number of overide units may
be distributed, so that foreign dignitaries and celebrities can also signal
their presence in the capital.
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