The London-based practice has received listed building consent from the City of Westminster council to renovate the interior of Church House, designed by Sir Herbert Baker and completed in 1940.
Proposed updates include improved accessibility, restored common areas, contemporary office fit-outs and increased toilet facilities.
Notable historic features will be preserved alongside the installation of sympathetic fixtures and fittings that reflect the building’s history but use modern materials and technology. The ceremonial entrance at Dean’s Yard will remain.
This initial phase of works is intended to be the first in a series of planning applications made on behalf the Corporation of the Church House charity to preserve and future-proof the multipurpose building.
Alex Scott Whitby, director of ScottWhitbyStudio, said: ‘Church House is an incredibly important place within the built heritage of London. It is one of those more quiet, functional buildings that gets on with the job of supporting the state and church activities.
‘We’re honoured to be contributing to its legacy of adaptability for the different pressures put upon it over the years, and look forward to seeing it deliver its new role as a multifunctional hub for London.’
The plans for Church House, which houses the headquarters of many of the central operations of the Church of England alongside commercial tenants, are part of a wider strategy to attract more tenants and grow fundraising potential by further expanding the church’s conferences business.
The building has capacity to host 800 people for events across its floor space of more than 220,000 sq ft.
The expectation is that the refurbishment, which is due for completion in time to welcome new tenants next summer, will be carbon-neutral. The Church of England has a target of being net zero by 2030.
Donald Insall Associates has acted as heritage consultant on the project.
