Let the Building Sing

Trooping the Colour; building as backdrop to a great city space

The careful repair and refurbishment of the Old Admiralty Building brings out the personality of a much loved building

Il'ìč Testoni

The refurbished corridors of power

Winston Churchill, first Lord of the Admiralty in 1939

Winston Churchill walked its corridors as First Lord of the Admiralty and Ian Fleming served in its naval intelligence department during World War II, before he created James Bond, the most famous spy in the world. In the heart of Whitehall, opposite Horse Guards Parade and a short walk from Trafalgar Square, Old Admiralty Building is familiar to millions as the imposing architectural setting to some of the most iconic ceremonies, including Trooping the Colour which marks the Queen’s official birthday. A Grade II listed building characterised by red brick and Portland stone elevations and copper clad domes supporting its distinctive radio masts, the building was erected in three phases between 1888 and 1905 to extend accommodation for the Admiralty during the ongoing race for global naval domination. When we were commissioned to transform it into the new home for a key government department in 2013, the building looked like it was stuck in a time warp. Crammed full of modern technology used by the current occupiers, it was clear that the original configuration had not changed since the time of its construction. The challenges facing the design team were considerable. How to transform a rigid, repetitive arrangement of cellular offices linked by long corridors around internal lightwells into a progressive, open plan, sustainable environment for an agile government department? What opportunities could be teased out of this building’s fabric and layout to adapt it to its new users’ efficient, flexible and collaborative workstyle? The listed building required reservicing to a high standard, whilst achieving a demanding security and acoustic brief. Comprehensive engagement and consultation with Westminster’s Conservation Officer meant a regular review of proposals, with progressive refinements to the scope of interventions agreed with the full support of Historic England. The rationalisation and reordering of the internal space optimises use. New structural openings were made to connect smaller cellular rooms with each other and the main corridors, connecting spaces to create a new collaborative environment. New plantrooms were located within the roof or internally on the top floor and perforated metal enclosures were slotted into the glazed brick courtyards. Rafts and enclosures were suspended to minimise their impact on the more significant rooms and spaces. New secondary glazing throughout provided key upgrades to security, acoustics and environmental conditions, all carefully designed to fit within the historic window reveals. Open plan, informal break-out spaces have been introduced to enhance the social identity and to assist with orientation. A particularly pleasing feature of the building is the use of materials and the patina they create, from mosaic tiling to iron access panels. These fine details were carefully cleaned and retained. In the face of a climate emergency, with construction consuming resources at an unacceptable rate, the sustainable retrofit preserves this national icon through sensitive adaptation, also reducing carbon emissions and embodied energy costs. The personality of the Old Admiralty Building shines through in readiness for the next chapter in its history. Winston Churchill, first Lord of the Admiralty in 1939

Connecting the corridors to social spaces

Painstaking work has revealed the colour, pattern and texture of the original finishes

New against old; light reflecting metal panels are slotted into the historic glazed brick lightwells