The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has provided an outline to overhaul its 66 Portland Place London headquarters into a “once-in-a-generation” home of the new House of Architecture initiative.  

For a reported cost of £85 million ($107.4 million USD), the project from Benedetti Architects will restore the building while creating a new centralized space for its world-leading Collections archive. The initiative was originally announced with a budget of £20 million (around $25 million USD). RIBA says the new figure "includes all project costs such as contingencies, inflation, and fees" for the renovations, whose plan of work required an additional £58.8 million ($74.3 million USD) in outturn costs.

"House of Architecture is about unlocking and opening RIBA to make it — and everything it offers — far more accessible. The proposed investment in our collections, upgrades to our digital platform, and improvements to our landmark building at 66 Portland Place are vital," said RIBA President Muyiwa Oki of the undertaking. "Together, these will ensure that we can encourage more people to care about architecture, promoting a deeper understanding and appreciation. We want RIBA to be at the heart of a global architecture community where important ideas — including how we design a low carbon future — are developed and shared."

Through the renovations, a new fully accessible entrance will be created along Weymouth Street, joined by a new "destination cafe" feature. The RIBA Collections will now be housed in a specially made 'Treasures Room,' while the members' room lounge area from 1934 will also be restored to its original state. The building's elevator systems will be expanded to grant access to all 28 levels.

"Much of what we are doing is not optional — the systems at 66 Portland Place are at the end of their lives," Board Chair Jack Pringle explained further. "The building does not provide universal access, and its solid-wall, single-glazed, gas fire systems are not sustainable. It will become a much-needed facility for our members visiting the capital — somewhere fascinating to visit and bring clients, with spaces to work and dine. It will also be an inspiring destination for anyone with a passion for architecture — a place for children and young people to learn about architecture’s power to improve society and people’s lives."

Plans must still be granted final approval before construction commences. Benedetti beat out proposals from David Kohn Architects, Hugh Broughton Architects, and other UK-based firms on a seven-entry list of finalists to earn the commission in May 2022. Construction is expected to take place along a four-year timeline. 

RIBA's American counterpart, The American Institute of Architects, is also pursuing a redesign of its Brutalist Washington, D.C. headquarters by EHDD.