The contractor is carrying out the major refurbishment and restoration of the Grade II* listed 66 Portland Place building in Westminster. The project is scheduled for completion in September 2027.
The Portland Place scheme will serve as a pilot project for the Net Zero Carbon Building Standard. It includes a major upgrade of the building’s fabric and services to improve its environmental performance.
Gilbert-Ash is stripping out and replacing ageing building services as part of the refurbishment. The contractor is also upgrading the external envelope to improve energy efficiency and address water ingress.
The project will improve accessibility throughout the 1930s headquarters. Public areas will also be remodelled, with greater prominence given to the café and RIBA shop.
A new fully accessible entrance will be created on Weymouth Street. The scheme will also provide new exhibition and events spaces as part of RIBA’s wider House of Architecture programme.
Purcell is the architect for the delivery phase and is taking forward the concept developed by Benedetti Architects.
Gardiner & Theobald is acting as project manager, while Jackson Coles is quantity surveyor, Eckersley O’Callaghan is structural engineer and Harley Haddow is services engineer.