Redevelopment of a Grade II* listed headquarters building to create a new public heritage education centre and contemporary workspaces for Lloyd's Register Foundation.

A phased plan for reimagining the Collcutt Building at 71 Fenchurch Street. The 6,500 sqm refurbishment consolidates public, cultural and commercial spaces, showcasing the Foundation's global research activities and providing new facilities for the Heritage Education Centre within the original historic headquarters of the global business.

The building is set to become a publicly accessible cultural institution in the heart of the City, with a programme of activities and events through out the year, revealing its important part in the narrative of the Corporation. Historical artefacts and contemporary pieces are displayed through out the building complementing the rich articulation of the original 1901 highly honed crafted arts and crafts interiors, telling the story of maritime safety right up to contemporary times.

In the unique context of the Square Mile the building is challenging to classify, belonging to a typology of building that is a fusion of a commercial HQ (such as the Midland Bank) and an institutional Hall (such as one of the many City Livery Halls) offering a combination of lavish ceremonial spaces with more functional office and ancillary accommodation.

Lloyd’s have always shared their significant history, there has always been a ‘Museum’ in the building; initially at 2nd floor level before being relocated to 4th floor level in 1910. The works for the Heritage Education Centre enhance that original publicly accessible offer as well as safe guarding the companies significant paper and object archive for prosperity.

The street-level gallery space reimagines the original open plan ‘general office’ as a multi-purpose space hosting the historic book library and showcasing Foundation collaboration and education activities. The library has over 59,000 items, including a complete collection of the Lloyd’s Register of Ships and Yachts, wreck books and staff journals.

The visitor experience has been transformed with a new foyer leading to an auditorium hosting talks, films and events.

The new basement archive provides a long-term home for the protection of the unique archive, including over 1.25 million ship plans, records, models, corporate artefacts and the historic photograph collection within a new accreditation-grade conservation space, supporting BS EN 16893:2018 Conservation of Cultural Heritage and BS 4971:2017 Conservation & Care of Archive & Library Collections. Combining dense storage with visually open display the archive provides bespoke spaces for research and study. The diversity of the Centre’s library and archive offer an invaluable resource to researchers from a variety of disciplines, including maritime, business, engineering, genealogy and linguistics.

The ground and first-floor historic rooms have been carefully conserved to provide a unique sequence of meeting and event spaces. The conservation works included protecting fabric, unique sculptures and artworks, and restoring the original arts and crafts chandeliers.

The full refurbishment of all floors of the building created bespoke workspace to support modern methods of working in historic rooms across five accommodation floors. Access has been improved to all areas with a forensic rebalance of old and new work.

Prioritising the conservation of the Collcutt Building, the works separate it from the adjacent 14 storey glazed tower designed by Richard Rogers, completed in 2000. The separation includes party wall works, a 2-storey basement plant room, an extended service core and a 2-storey roof plant extension. The new service core includes an additional fire escape staircase, whilst enhancing the existing stair and lift core to meet firefighting requirements.

The historic building was originally designed to maximise passive ventilation and natural lighting. Modern performance standards and deeper plan development led to the installation of artificial modern servicing systems. The redevelopment achieves a significant reduction in carbon emissions, energy consumption and running costs. The thermal performance of the building was enhanced through the partial replacement of significant elements, including approx. 10% of new wall and roof construction. New energy efficient servicing was introduced and a new building management system to support energy efficient forms of occupation, to meet user needs and carbon ambitions. The new internal environments create a positive sensory experience for users, prioritising low carbon, biogenic and recycled materials. Water management has been improved through the installation of low flow fittings. New efficient systems providing comfort control and low energy LED lighting to reduce operational energy use.

The new 8 storey extension received planning permission from the City of London in September 2022. The initial redevelopment of the existing building completed in January 2023. The next phase is due to complete in 2024.