Vauxhall Cross
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Identification
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| Official name |
Vauxhall Cross |
| Alternative names |
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| Emporis Building Number |
158690 |
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Location
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| Address |
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| Bordering street |
Albert Embankment |
| Postcode |
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| Exact Latitude |
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| Exact Longitude |
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| Location Map (POI) |
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| Borough | Lambeth |
| City |
London |
| State |
England |
| Country |
United Kingdom |
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Technical Data
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| Floors (OG) |
10 |
| Floors (UG) |
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| Construction start |
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| Construction end |
1995 |
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Building in General
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| Type of construction |
low-rise building |
| Main usages |
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| Architectural style |
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| Status |
existing [completed] |
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Vauxhall Cross is home to Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, sometimes known as MI6, who took up occupancy in 1995. To employees working there it is known as 'Legoland'. |
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The building, which reputedly cost £130m ($195m) to build, became famous when it appeared in the opening sequence of the James Bond movie 'The World is Not Enough'. It is a modern-day fortress, boasting bomb and bulletproof walls and windows and, allegedly, a wire mesh to prevent electromagnetic information from passing in or out. Much of the complex is below street-level to protect the most sensitive areas from terrorist attack, while its internal layout is covered by the Official Secrets Act. |
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On 20 September 2000 at around 9:45pm, the building's defences were tested when it was attacked by a rocket-launcher (specifically, a Russian-built Mark 22 anti-tank weapon). At least one missile was fired at the side of the building facing Albert Embankment, striking somewhere near the 8th floor. Only one window was damaged. |
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Vauxhall Cross is also affectionately known as 'Babylon-on-Thames'. |
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