Winning design team to lead London's Barbican Centre renewal revealed

A collaborative design team led by architects Allies and Morrison and Asif Khan Studio, has been selected to deliver a multi-million-pound renewal of London’s Barbican Centre. The project aims to provide new opportunities for the Barbican’s community of artists, audiences, organisers, delegates and partners, as well as boost the building’s accessibility and environmental performance. The winning team, chosen from a five-team shortlist, also includes engineering and sustainability consultancy, Buro Happold; heritage experts from Alan Baxter Ltd; theatre, acoustic, and digital consultancy, Charcoalblue; landscape architects, Hood Design Studio, lighting design agency, les éclaireurs, and artistic advisors Isaac Julien and Nadia Fall. The team has experience of major UK heritage and cultural projects, and have delivered projects for organisations including Tate Britain, the V&A, Royal Festival Hall, Shakespeare’s Globe, Oakland and Museum of California. Their vision is led by sustainability, with a focus on reusing and retrofitting existing spaces to minimise the project’s carbon footprint and environmental impact. This approach aims to make sustainable improvements that will retain the Barbican’s Grade II listed architecture, while bringing underused spaces into new creative use. Commenting on the news, Jackie Boughton, head of business events, Barbican, said: “As a globally renowned arts and learning centre as well as a venue for conferences, meetings and events, the Barbican needs to continually evolve and develop its offering to remain relevant to the needs of organisers and delegates. “The renewal project is an incredibly exciting opportunity that will see the venue realise its full potential for years to come and the business events team looks forward to sharing the progress of the multi-million-pound renewal.” The winning design team’s vision will now be refined and developed, including extensive engagement with the Barbican’s stakeholders. Multiple design options will be created for the project, which will be deliverable within a construction budget of £50m-£150m. The budget for the project is subject to approval by elected members of London’s City Corporation.