The retrofit of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists knits together two existing buildings

25.02.2021

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has relocated to a new building at 10 Union Street in Southwark. The retrofit knits together two existing buildings, a converted 19th century hop warehouse and a 1980s office building by creating a new atrium. The new building provides office spaces to support innovative ways of working for the College’s more than 200 staff, as well as conferencing facilities and a public café. It will enable the College to provide a fully accessible building with an emphasis on health, wellbeing and sustainable design. 

The project has been carefully designed to a high sustainability standard and is on track to achieve a post-construction BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’, supported by the maximum retention of the existing historic buildings and a sensitive interior restoration. Key elements of the original building fabric are carefully exposed, including the brickwork and trusses, to create a characterful space with a sense of history. With a ground floor café and drop-in space that can be used by both visiting members and the local community, the atrium has been designed to be an active and engaging space that promotes wellbeing.

Simon Erridge, Director, Bennetts Associates, says, “10 Union Street is a new hub for women’s health which is designed to bring people together to share ideas and experiences. It is a model for the kind of flexible, social workspace that will become essential in a post-Covid world. The light-touch sustainable design approach we have taken transforms the experience of using the buildings whilst re-utilising most of the existing building fabric on the site”.

Read the news of RCOG's on their official website here.