BDP’s London studio has been awarded a full interdisciplinary contract for client advisory services for the refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster, the meeting place for the two houses of the UK parliament.
BDP beat Allies and Morrison, Foster + Partners and HOK for the job.
The full scope of work includes architecture, civil and structural engineering, building services engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, lighting design, acoustics and planning.
Collaborating with BDP on the project will be heritage and conservation specialist Donald Insall Associates, civil and structural engineer Alan Baxter Associates, building services engineer Hoare Lea and planning consultancy Gerald Eve.
Since its construction in the mid-1800s, many systems in the palace have never undergone a major renovation, and the heating, ventilation, water, drainage and electrical systems are antiquated.
Tim Leach, the architecture director of BDP, said:Â “It’s an enormous privilege for the practice to be entrusted with helping safeguard the Palace of Westminster, this international symbol of democracy and our society’s shared values.
“This new programme of work presents the unique and very special challenge of responding to the needs of parliament and its visitors, and conserving its historic fabric for this and future generations.”Â
Image: The Palace of Westminster (Wikimedia Commons/OldakQuill)
