UK's Gilbert Ash Wins £40m RIBA Headquarters Refurbishment Contract

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 1, UK construction contractor Gilbert-Ash confirmed it had secured the main contract for the refurbishment of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) London headquarters, with a contract value of approximately £40 million. The project is located at 66 Portland Place, Westminster, London, and the building is a Grade II* listed structure. Gilbert-Ash had been involved in the project for approximately one year through a pre-construction services agreement, and has now formally entered the main contract implementation phase, with overall works scheduled for completion in September 2027.

The project will deliver a systematic refurbishment of this headquarters building, originally constructed in the 1930s. The scope of works includes the removal and replacement of ageing building services (MEP) systems, upgrading the building envelope, addressing long-standing water ingress issues, and improving overall energy performance. The project will also enhance internal accessibility, fire safety, and the functionality of public areas within the building. Gilbert-Ash project documentation confirms that Purcell is responsible for the construction-stage architectural design, Benedetti Architects undertook the earlier concept design, Gardiner & Theobald serves as project manager, Jackson Coles provides cost consultancy, Eckersley O’Callaghan is responsible for structural engineering, and Harley Haddow handles building services (MEP) engineering.

The refurbishment will also create a new step-free entrance facing Weymouth Street and reorganise public spaces including exhibition areas, event spaces, a café, and a shop. RIBA closed its headquarters at 66 Portland Place in June 2025, with the original plan being a closure of approximately three years for the refurbishment; during the construction period, staff have been relocated to temporary office accommodation.

The 66 Portland Place refurbishment forms part of RIBA's wider "House of Architecture" programme. Publicly available information indicates that the overall investment in this programme is approximately £85 million, of which the previously confirmed scope of works for the headquarters refurbishment and restoration was valued at approximately £58.8 million, while the main construction contract secured by Gilbert-Ash is valued at £40 million.

The project will also serve as one of the pilot projects for the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard, delivering a holistic upgrade of the building envelope, MEP systems, and energy use while preserving the character of the historic building. Gilbert-Ash has already commenced on-site works, and the project is expected to continue until September 2027.