Restoration and improvements to the Grade I-listed home of The British Academy

The British Academy is the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences – with a voice that champions the study of peoples, cultures and societies, past, present and future. Situated within the Grade I-listed Nash-designed Carlton House Terrace, the building lies between The Mall and Pall Mall in London’s Mayfair.

The ongoing project aims to restore the double-height basements, creating new 220-capacity events spaces. These flexible spaces with state-of-the-art digital technologies enhance the Academy’s facilities for lectures, meetings, and events. Improvements also include remodelled WCs along with upgraded access to and within the ground floor.

Skelly & Couch led the survey of existing services to plan diversions and demolitions of works alongside an extensive review of archive record drawings to understand the existing systems in place.

The building’s efficiency was improved through the installation of new double glazing, achieving a 40% reduction in heat loss. Furthermore, natural ventilation was maximised by using direct connections to the outside for air paths.

Bespoke designs of new mechanical and electrical systems were undertaken to suit the constraints of the existing building and its listing.

A reversible air source heat pump replaces gas boiler heating to provide low-carbon heating to the events spaces. This is facilitated by thermal zoning, a component of the new building energy management system which includes full fault diagnostics and energy sub-metering.

Heat reclaim mechanical ventilation enhances this setup by supplying filtered air while retaining most of the energy already used to heat the building. The auditorium ventilation system's design was refined to enhance architectural and structural coordination within the limited space and to address impacts on the listed building.

Additional technologies include LED lighting with occupancy, daylight, and dimming control, along with reduced hot water consumption through low-flow water fittings.

The refurbishment of the lower floors of the British Academy marks a significant step in the Academy's mission to enhance both physical and intellectual access to the building, facilitating new conversations, new connections, and new ways of thinking within its historic walls.