Architects shortlisted for historic Parliament renewal

Six architects including Allies & Morrison, Purcell, HLM and Donald Insall Associates have been shortlisted for the once-in-a-century restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster.

Feilden Clegg Bradley, Aecom, Capita, HOK and Feilden & Mawson all filled in PQQs after a bidders’ day held in June that was “heaving” with architects interested in the ambitious scheme including Caroe & Partners and Sheppard Robson. Unsuccessful bidders are still being contacted but BD understands they include Feilden & Mawson and FCB.

Purcell is one of the biggest winners in the fiercely contested process, featuring in no fewer than three of the successful teams as specialist conservation architect partnering with larger practices.

It was also involved in writing the architectural and conservation aspects of the brief to convert the grade I listed buildings for 21^st century use.

“This is only going to happen once every century or so,” one bidder told BD. “Who wouldn’t want to work on that building? If you aren’t interested what are you doing in the profession? There’s not another job like it in view anywhere.”

The finalists will be invited to submit proposals for three options: decanting MPs, peers and staff to another site while work is carried out as fast as possible; closing the buildings in stages; and a much slower, rolling programme that would seek to disrupt Parliament’s work as little as possible.

The initial stages, though mostly about logistics and strategy, involve some masterplanning and design work and could lead to a role in later stages. A Palace of Westminster spokeswoman said architecture was a “key aspect” of the programme.

One finalist said: “For conservation architects it’s a dream and for practices who like solving problems it’s fascinating because it’s such a massive organisational task.” 

Another said: “I can’t think of another undertaking of this scale. It doesn’t have any precedent. No one knows what to expect. The scope for contemporary interventions will be minimal because it’s a World Heritage Site and everything is listed but it will be very interesting to have the opportunity to have a comprehensive look at the whole estate.”

A leading conservationist with experience of working on the buildings said it was a “fantastic job” but warned its size could overwhelm a practice.

The scope of the project includes both Houses of Parliament, Westminister Hall and a number of other grade I buildings.

Architects were forced to team up with major contractors in order to meet the strict pre-qualification criteria which insisted on teams having a total turnover of £20 million.

This prompted Walter Menteth, head of the RIBA’s procurement reform group, to complain that most practices were being frozen out of a project that would historically have been led by an architect.

Meanwhile, Parliament is also re-tendering the framework for conservation architects. Practices believed to be applying for the £600,000 job include Feilden & Mawson, Purcell, Donald Insall, Caroe & Partners and Julian Harrap Architects. Expressions of interest close on August 5.