The Royal College of Obstetricians
THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS
Bennetts Associates
ARCHITECT
Matt Beaumont
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Integral Engineering
SERVICES ENGINEER
KJ Tait
PROJECT MANAGER
Burke Hunter Adams
QUANTITY SURVEYOR
Burke Hunter Adams
FIRE ENGINEERS
JGA
ACOUSTICS ENGINEERS
Mach Acoustics
PRINCIPLE CONTRACTOR
8Build
LEAD ARCHITECTS
Jade Chau, James Allison
YEAR
2020
AREA
56000 ft²
LOCATION
London Borough Of Southwark, United Kingdom
Text description provided by architect.
The Royal College of Pathologists relocated to a new building designed by Bennetts Associates. The completion of the 4,500m2 building on Alie Street in East London marks the final step in the college’s move from a traditional Grade 1 listed building in St James to contemporary purpose-built premises.
The design of the new building addresses the college’s mission to advance the science and practice of pathology and to better serve its membership.
The new building is designed to accommodate the college’s changing space requirements in the coming decades and help it meet its strategic development objectives, providing a multitude of flexible educational, workplace, social spaces and meeting and working areas for visiting members.
The generous and easily adaptable event spaces accommodate large conferences, dinners, receptions and exhibitions, helping the organisation to host guests from the UK and abroad. The move to 6 Alie Street also allows the College to market its conference and event facilities to external clients.
The new building uses materials and artefacts to reflect the character of the Royal College, with social areas, staff offices and education spaces that reference the college’s history and look to its future.
As a key feature, the building’s sixth floor steps back, creating an open-plan pavilion with panoramic views over London. The large double height reception space can be used for hosting public exhibitions and events while the full height windows at ground floor level create transparency and a sense of openness.
Designed and built to last, the building features enduring and timeless materials: the meticulously crafted concrete frame unifies the building and integrates structure, services and lighting. The brickwork cladding, also present in the grand atria, stitches the spaces together. The structure features large spans and few columns for built-in flexibility, while a variety of materials and techniques add texture to the internal spaces. Board-marked concrete, coffered concrete soffits and waxed mild steel staircases are complemented by rich walnut timber panelling and perforated brick walls.
