The filming location of the new Avengers Compound is in fact The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia, and I paid it a visit!
What is this? A building I recognise…
Oh no! It is the Avengers Headquarters!
“But if you put the hammer in an elevator.”
“It would still go up.”
“Elevator’s not worthy.”
“You think you can find out what’s coming?”
“I do. Besides this one, there’s nothing that can’t be explained.”
At last Stark is leaving, and I can sneak into the Avengers Compound!
The filming location of the Avengers Facility is in fact The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia.
This incredibly beautiful building was built in 1975 and houses a beautiful art collection, which is free to visit, apart from selected exhibitions.
Fairly certain this is Coulson’s head though….
The Evolution of the New Avengers Facility
While the UEA is most recognisable in Avengers: Age of Ultron, the building does appear in every subsequent shot of the Upstate Avengers compound, even up to Avengers: Endgame in some form.
The UEA also appears briefly again at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron, but I believe in a largely CGI form, as the interior of the building is very different.
Ant-Man
The new Avengers Facility also appears in Ant-Man, but I believe it is now completely CGI, as is only seen briefly in an establishing shot, and in the background of the fight between Ant-Man and Falcon.
Captain America: Civil War
The Avengers Facility also features briefly in Captain America: Civil War, and it appears an entire building has changed location, and the water which was previously only visible in pools in Ant-Man now appears to be a whole waterfront.
Spider-Man Homecoming
The new Avengers Facility also appears in Spider-Man Homecoming, and while the original UEA building is still there, it is gradually becoming a less important part of the design as the site expands.
Avengers: Infinity War
Most recently the Avengers Compound has appeared in Avengers: Infinity War. The UAE building is still visible, behind the main building, but is now dwarfed by the rest of the facility, which has now expanded more towards the waterfront.
Avengers: Endgame
And from the recent Avengers: Endgame trailer, here is a view of the much changed hanger in the top left corner, but it is still recognisable as the University of East Anglia due to the presence of the slanted glass windows in front of the centre
LEGO Marvel Avengers
The Avengers Headquarters also features in the LEGO Marvel Avengers game, and is a faithful recreation of the facility in Avengers: Age of Ultron
I highly recommend a visit to the University of East Anglia Sainsbury Centre, as it is one of the most iconic Avengers buildings that exists in a recognisable form.
Location
Travel
Reaching the University of East Anglia by public transport is a lengthy, but easy journey from London. Megabus operates a coach that will take you directly to the campus, and if booked several weeks in advance it is very cheap, but the journey does take approximately three hours.
Dear Lego Loki,
My team and I built this part of the university in 1991.
The flight deck with the sloping glass facade. Theis part comes all from Germany.
This was a great adventure for us.