Woolwich Works

Culture

A new cultural quarter within the Royal Arsenal – where heritage buildings find a renewed civic purpose.

Project Details

Royal Arsenal, London

Location
The Royal Borough of Greenwich

Client
GIA: 16,500 sqm

Area
£31.2M

Value
2022

Completion

Carbon Data

Upfront Carbon (A1-A5)

<290 kgCO₂e/m²

Formed from five largely disused historic military buildings on the Thames, Woolwich Works transforms the Grade II and II* listed structures into a creative campus. Commissioned by the Royal Borough of Greenwich, the project provides spaces for performance, rehearsal and community use, establishing a lasting cultural anchor for the area.

At its heart is the Fireworks Factory – a flexible venue accommodating up to 1,800 people, supported by studios, smaller performance rooms, a café, courtyard and river-facing events space. These functions are distributed across the existing buildings, each adapted according to its form and character.

Working with Consarc as conservation architect, the design approach was one of careful adaptation rather than transformation. Brickwork, roof trusses and historic detailing were revealed and repaired, while modern services and acoustic treatment were integrated discreetly to preserve the integrity of the original fabric.

Reusing the existing structures significantly reduced embodied carbon and retained the distinctive identity of the Arsenal. Durable, low-impact materials were chosen for new elements, and close coordination with the contractor ensured efficient construction within the constraints of the heritage context.

Woolwich Works is both a cultural landmark and a civic regeneration project -— a place where the past continues to shape London’s creative future.