In the Star Wars: Andor series, Coruscant makes several important appearances as the galactic capital and hub of Imperial power. One standout sequence takes place at the Coruscant Space Port, a busy interstellar terminal where characters arrive, depart, and confront the sprawling reach of the Empire. In Andor Season 1, this futuristic transport hub provides the backdrop for the story’s political intrigue and personal drama, including critical moments for characters such as Syril Karn.
The Real Location Behind Coruscant Space Port
Although Coruscant is a completely fictional planet in the Star Wars universe, parts of its spaceport scenes were filmed at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England. This striking building serves as the headquarters of the McLaren Group, best known for its Formula 1 racing team and luxury automotive engineering.
Designed by the celebrated architect Norman Foster, the McLaren Technology Centre was completed in 2003 and features expansive glass facades, a curved roofline, and reflective surfaces that give it a sleek, otherworldly appearance—an ideal fit for the gleaming cityscapes of Coruscant. The production team used sections of the building’s lobby and surrounding spaces to represent the busy transit areas of the Coruscant Space Port, blending the real architecture with digital enhancements to create a futuristic terminal.
McLaren’s modernist design—with its clean lines and high-tech feel—made it a natural choice for a Star Wars setting. In visual effects and post-production, the location was augmented to evoke the towering megastructures and dense verticality associated with Coruscant’s urban core, turning the real-world building into a believable galactic transport hub.
Why This Location Works
The McLaren Technology Centre’s architecture evokes a futuristic aesthetic without the need for extensive set construction. Its vast glass surfaces reflect light in dramatic ways, and its modern materials help convey a sense of scale and sophistication perfect for Star Wars’ capital city. This blend of real architecture and visual effects exemplifies how Andor uses existing locations to ground its storytelling in the tangible world, even while it depicts events in a galaxy far, far away.
Visiting McLaren Technology Centre Today
The McLaren Technology Centre is not generally open to the public, as it remains an active corporate headquarters and research facility. However, fans of Andor and architectural enthusiasts can still appreciate the site from outside:
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By train: Woking is well connected to London and other UK cities.
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By car: The centre sits just off the A320 near Paragon Roundabout.
From the exterior, its sweeping glass façades and landscaped surroundings make it a fascinating stop for fans who enjoy seeing real-world places that have been transformed into galactic icons on screen.
