Public buildings
Bringing public buildings to life; shaping their future through innovation and design
15 Bermondsey Square, Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 3UN
+44 (0) 2027 379 7171
www.purcellarchitecture.com © Purcell Architecture 2025
We bring public buildings to life; shaping their future through innovation and design.
Maximising the value of existing buildings through reuse and adaptation is a priority for most public sector clients. Purcell supports this by assessing development potential, identifying opportunities and constraints (including complex heritage or planning considerations), and delivering strategies for decarbonisation, environmental sustainability, and commercial return.
We work by understanding the context and uncovering the stories of a place, by discovering what has gone before, assessing where that place is now and imagining what it can be in the future. We are experts in stakeholder consultation and working with local communities. We can take an idea, develop it and follow it through a full cycle of a project from designing, through construction to advising on managing and maintaining the built asset.
Jo Bartle Head of Public Sector
“Purcell’s expertise in repair, reinstatement and integration of new and old, along with the unwavering client support offered throughout all stages of funding and project logistics has paid dividends.”
RIBA JUDGES
“Purcell’s understanding of our building and its setting is profound. [Their] experience in engaging with planning authorities has been invaluable.”
SIR GABRIELE FINALDI, DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY
Accessibility
Estate
Retrofit
Estate
Social
Project
Working
About Purcell Our global reach
Purcell is a specialist practice of architects, masterplanners and heritage consultants. We are one of few international practices dedicated both to the care and development of historic places and the creation of innovative new buildings in sensitive contexts.
We employ over 300 architects, conservation architects and surveyors (a significant number of these are AABC, RIBA or RICS conservation accredited), masterplanners, heritage consultants, visualisers, and support groups. We are organised around four regions in the UK and a fifth in Asia Pacific comprising Hong Kong and Australia. Our purpose is to care for and bring new life to, the historic built environment, both nationally and internationally, expanding the ways in which places are understood and enjoyed by everyone.
With an extensive background in adaptive reuse and retrofit of historic buildings and sites across a range of heritage designations, including Grade I, II* and II listings, Purcell has undertaken a broad spectrum of projects of national and regional significance. This brochure presents a selection of these projects, illustrating how our work aligns with current priorities and emerging themes within the public sector.
Asia Pacific
HONG KONG EDINBURGH
COLCHESTER
BRISTOL
CAMBRIDGE
LONDON
MELBOURNE HOBART
SYDNEY
Studio map
Design & masterplanning
We are involved in projects from the beginning by carrying out condition surveys, conservation management plans, feasibility studies and options appraisals. All these contribute to our masterplanning process. These are often complex where numerous threads need disentangling before the masterplan can be conceived and design begins. We are skilled at making complex problems simple and comprehensible. Our approach is also built on achieving consensus through considerate stakeholder and community engagement, unlocking funding and revenue potential to ensure future sustainability.
Haigh Hall masterplan sketch
Haigh Hall, Greater Manchester
Delivering a masterplan for a much-loved park, Grade II* listed hall and visitor buildings.
The masterplan brief was developed via extensive stakeholder engagement with local residents, park users, council user groups and volunteer groups. This Heritage, Nature and People project aims to link the natural and built heritage to health and wellbeing through outdoor activities, audience development, volunteering and training.
A key aspect of the masterplan will see the transformation of Haigh Hall into a nationally significant arts, culture and heritage destination. The eighteenth century Haigh Hall sits at the centre of 250 acres of public park and woodland. This project provides employment and training opportunities aligned with Wigan Council’s commitment to community wealth and social value.
Haigh Hall photomontage showing proposed new roof terrace addition
Net zero & decarbonisation
Our carbon reduction plans create the foundation for longer term decarbonising work on existing buildings. Decarbonising may be a stand alone service or part of larger regeneration projects where adaptive reuse is the key theme.
Our in-house experts apply the latest tools, techniques and technology to increase energy efficiency, sourcing environmentally conscious materials and reducing carbon footprints.
Hull’s North End Shipyard Visitor Centre - Certified as the first UK Passivhaus museum
Hull Maritime Museum, Hull
Safeguarding Hull’s maritime history, collections and architecture while developing employment opportunities for local people.
This project is part of a city-wide cultural regeneration and placemaking programme.
To showcase and celebrate the story of the flagship trawler, our team has designed a new Passivhaus visitor centre which is the first of its kind anywhere in the UK. The work being undertaken will increase Hull’s offer to visitors and residents, refocusing the cityspace and drawing out the city’s narrative. The future of this civic building has been safeguarded for future generations.
Hull Maritime Museum
Accessibility & inclusivity
Optimising access is the key to safeguarding buildings for future generations. We apply inclusive design techniques to ensure the public buildings we work on are accessible and welcoming to the widest and most diverse audiences.
Purcell has developed a reputation for inclusive adaptions in some of the most challenging historic and grade listed settings, including Norfolk County Hall, the Parliamentary Estate and Manchester Museum.
Norfolk County Hall - Council Chamber
Norfolk County Hall, Norwich
Providing equal opportunity and accessibility for staff and visitors alike.
Purcell worked to reconfigure the space to provide open, flexible, and adaptable workspaces which have replaced outdated cellular offices to reflect the council’s agile working policy.
Devices such as lightweight hanging acoustic barriers define breakout areas and quiet spaces, facilitating multiple work styles and requirements.
Inappropriate visual patterns have been eliminated for the benefit of neurodiversity and important physical changes mean that all areas can be accessed and exited safely.
Norfolk County Hall - Breakout space
Estate rationalisation
Our teams are experts at identifying the potential in underutilised spaces and preparing an asset for sale or change of use. In existing buildings, space planning is a critical skill for achieving more efficient ways of working.
Disposing of assets may be the outcome of space planning tasks or buildings that are either unfit for purpose or have become redundant. In 2017, we worked with the Ministry of Justice to prepare Reading Prison for sale on the open market.
National Gallery Accommodation Hub - Aerial view of the offices
National Gallery Accommodation Hub, London
Enhancing collaboration, communication and community among 250+ members of staff.
This rationalisation project has united departments and staff on one site for the first time and has allowed the gallery to dispose of external sites.
A new office configuration has utilised redundant and confined spaces nestled between and beneath the exhibition halls of the nation’s art collection.
The refurbishment included the conversion of two lightwells and adjacent spaces at basement and ground floor, creating eight floorsover 40,000 square feet - of workspace.
National Gallery Accommodation Hub - Flexible working spaces
Retrofit & adaptive reuse
As early proponents of the ‘retrofit first’ revolution, our portfolio illustrates exemplary reuse, adaptation and refurbishment of civic, local authority and national government buildings, demonstrating the social, economic and environmental benefits of conserving existing building stock.
Camden Town Hall - grand lobby marble staircase
Camden Town Hall, London
Accommodating a modern workforce and increasing democratic use.
Purcell’s proposals sensitively restored, refurbished and enhanced the historic town hall.
Work included the remodelling of the building to accommodate modern ways of working, with the upper floors of the building turned into lettable commercial office space.
Improved environmental efficiency, new technology and accessibility adaptations have transformed the public facilities of the building for increased civic use.
Camden Town Hall, London - exterior and interior images
Estate management
Purcell provides estate management services. These include addressing backlog repairs through condition surveys and forward maintenance programmes.
Often requiring flexibility, discretion and minimal disruption to ongoing operations, the expertise of Purcell’s architects and surveyors is based on extensive experience of working in occupied environments. We can provide a unique balance of craft skills, innovative surveying techniques, heritage expertise (where required) and space planning experience across numerous workplace types to maximise efficiency.
Palaces of Westminster, London - Shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize 2025
The Parliamentary Estate, London
Delivering multiple refurbishment projects over two decades.
Our ongoing work at the Parliamentary Estate includes the creation of additional workplaces, re-presentation of historic interiors and improving security and access measures.
Recently completed: refurbishment of the Millbank Island Site for the House of Lords, repair and refurbishment of the Elizabeth Tower, repair of the cast-iron roofs across the Palace of Westminster and the relighting of Westminster Hall.
Elizabeth Tower - Big Ben’s clockface during restoration
Social impact
In our mission to be a force for good, we ensure the economic, social, and environmental impacts of our operations are positive, both as a business and to wider society.
Last year Purcell employees delivered 464 days-worth of social value (equivalent to 13 hours per fulltime employee), mostly through partnership with public organisations and local authorities. This included educating young people through mentoring, career advice seminars, work placements, site tours and training.
We ensure those communities in which we work always benefit from the social, economic and environmental value our work brings.
Boston Manor House - State Drawing Room after restoration
Boston Manor House, London
Rescuing an ‘at risk’ structure and transforming it into a community asset.
Purcell’s work included the conservation and re-presentation of the house and service wing, construction of a new lift to improve accessibility and the refurbishment of the cafe and visitor facilities.
The Victorian service wing was transformed into lettable makerspaces for a local creative academy. Boston Manor can now host school visits, tours, workshops and general visitors and is a venue for talks, performances and celebrations.
The Jimmy Choo Academy at Boston Manor House
Project lifecycle
Aims & objectives
Funding streams
Stakeholder engagement
Decarbonising the Estate
Inclusivity & accessibility
Net zero & sustainability
Social value & community
Backlog repairs
Masterplan
Framework & procurement
Strategic problem solving
Estate rationalisation & transformation
Building condition surveys
Feasibility studies
Design
Visualisation
Planning & consents
Retrofit & refurbishment
Heritage consultancy
Business case
All programmes of work are distinct - varying in size and complexity.
• Every project needs to go through different stages
• Understanding how these processes flow will reduce delay and cost
• Understanding the aims and requirements is key to a successful project
• Understanding the estate or buildings and surroundings will allow creative solutions to be explored
Delivery
NEC contracts
Building information management
Soft landings
Technical delivery
Completion & occupation
Post-occupancy evaluation
Estates management
Lessons learnt
“I have rarely enjoyed a project so much nor worked with such an able and positive team.”
WILTSHIRE COUNCIL (TROWBRIDGE TOWN HALL, 2025)
“The professionalism and creativity of Purcell’s team make the entire process smooth and enjoyable.”
CHESHIRE EAST COUNCIL (CREWE WARM & HEALTHY HOMES, 2025)
Boston Manor House, London Borough of Hounslow
“Purcell has been an excellent Architect and Lead Consultant throughout development and delivery stages of the Boston Manor House Project to fully restore this Grade I listed historic house. They have brought substantial expertise, wider advisory contacts and a proactive problem-solving attitude to the project.”
LONDON BOROUGH OF HOUNSLOW (BOSTON MANOR HOUSE, 2025)
NORTH & HEAD OF PUBLIC SECTOR
Jo Bartle
Deputy Regional Partner
BA (Hons) BArch Dip AP&M RIBA
jo.bartle@purcelluk.com
+44 (0) 1904 644 001
+44 (0) 7762 268 350
WEST
Justin Metcalfe
Regional Partner
BA (Hons) BArch PGDip RIBA
Passive House Designer
justin.metcalfe@purcelluk.com
+44 (0) 1865 856 250
+44 (0) 7912 747 992
LONDON & SOUTH-EAST
Katharine Barber Heritage Consultancy Partner
BA (Hons) Mst MCIfA
katharine.barber@purcelluk.com
+44 (0) 207 397 7171
+44 (0) 7887 475 675
LONDON & SOUTH-EAST
Laura Baron Head of Sustainability
SC (Hons) MArch DipArch ARB RIBA laura.baron@purcelluk.com
+44 (0) 207 397 7171
EAST
Peter Buist Regional Partner
BA (Hons) MArch PGCert RIBA peter.buist@purcelluk.com
+44 (0) 1206 244 844
+44 (0) 7769 695 162
WEST
Charles Bain Smith
Head of Surveying
RIBA SCA
charles.bainsmith@purcelluk.com
+44 (0) 20 7397 7171
+44 (0) 7483 351 007