Stephen Lawrence Centre Opens in London

The Stephen Lawrence Centre, in memory of the black teenager who was killed in a racially motivated attack at a bus stop in South East London in 1993, was officially opened recently in Deptford.
Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone opened the building, which serves as an enduring celebration of Stephen’s life. Jamaica’s High Commissioner to London, Burchell Whiteman, was a special guest at the function.
Stephen, whose parents were born in Jamaica, had dreamed of becoming an architect. The centre, designed by award-winning architect David Adjaye, aims to inspire young people to pursue careers in architecture and design. It contains business development suites and digital audiovisual and design facilities.
In partnership with leading firms and academic institutions, the facility offers academic and vocational programmes targeting young people age 14 to 25.
The facility, which will also be the new home of the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, was funded through commercial and public sector contributions.
The Trust has awarded 50 undergraduate and postgraduate bursaries to architectural students in the UK, Jamaica and South Africa.
The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust is an educational charity, with a mission to promote diversity in architecture and associated professions, improve the educational achievements of black and ethnic-minority students, and help young people find pathways out of poverty into sustainable, rewarding careers in architecture, building construction, and other fields associated with urban design and regeneration.