Congress House Refurbishment
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Exterior, south-east corner
James Brittain (website) Download Original
Refurbishment of Grade II* listed Congress House, one of the most distinguished public buildings of the 1950s
The Trades Union Congress Memorial Building was completed in 1957. After 40 years of use, parts of the building were beginning to show their age and poor conference facilities and staff amenities contributed to the centre failing to pay for its upkeep. Rather than relocate, the TUC decided to invest in the refurbishment of the building.
Externally the changes are minimal, mainly involving improvements to accessibility. Internally this ongoing project tackles the main hall and other conference/meeting areas, the principal public and circulation spaces, the upgrading of offices and the creation of a new apartment for the TUC’s general secretary.
Retained original fabric has been carefully restored, all the services have been upgraded, access has been improved and interventions have been planned in a contemporary manner, with lightness and transparency as key themes in the project. Due to the Grade II* listing the approach was developed in close collaboration with English Heritage and Camden council.
Data
- Begun: 1996
- Completed: 2003
- Floor area: 14,355m2
- Sector: Office
- Total cost: £5.8M
- Procurement: JCT Intermediate Form of Contract 98
- Address: Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Hugh Broughton Architects
- Project architect: David du R. Aberdeen
- Client: Trades Union Congress
- Project manager: Arup
- Structural engineer: Arup
- Services engineer: Arup
- Quantity surveyor: Stace Quantity Surveying
- Audiovisual engineer: Arup Communications
- Acoustic engineer: Arup Acoustics
- Lift engineer: Arup Lifts
- Facilities Management Consultant: Arup Facilities (Bristol)
- Access consultant: Centre for Accessible Environments
- Planning supervisor: Stace Health and Safety
- Main contractor: Benson Interiors
- Main contractor: Overbury
- Main contractor: Langams
Suppliers
- Mosaic tile restoration: Alpha Mosaic and Terrazzo Co
- Awnings: Architen Landrell
- Coated aluminium: John Desmond
- Stainless-steel wall panel: Purposetree
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