Purcell appointed as executive architect on RIBA HQ refurbishment

The RIBA has appointed Purcell as executive architect on Benedetti Architects’ £58.8m refurbishment of the institute’s London headquarters.

Benedetti was selected for the job in 2022 following an RIBA-run competition. The plans will create a separate entrance for the café from Weymouth Street and a ‘generously sized’ entrance to the library, matching original features inside the George Grey Wornum-designed building. The main exhibition space will move upstairs, becoming a second events space.

Other previously announced aspects of the scheme include the restoration of the Jarvis Foyer, a 400-seat hospitality space, more display space for architectural models and drawings, a second dedicated exhibition space and a reinstated members’ room in its original 1934 location.

'We were delighted to appoint Benedetti Architects to that role, fresh from their triumph at BAFTA. Now, for Stage 4, we are pleased to retain Benedetti as our design guardian and to bring in the powerful team of Purcell with their in-depth knowledge of the renovation of historic buildings – not least the Palace of Westminster, the National Gallery in collaboration with Selldorf Architects, and Auckland Castle where they collaborated with Niall McLaughlin Architects.'

– Jack Pringle, Board Chair, RIBA

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