Architects and designers invited to design new Met Police HQ

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is delighted to announce the launch of a new design competition on behalf of the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to create a new central London HQ - replacing their existing New Scotland Yard building.

The new HQ, to be called Scotland Yard, will involve the redevelopment of the existing and currently unoccupied Curtis Green MPS building located on the Victoria Embankment, London, SW1.

The Curtis Green Building named after architect William Curtis Green sits within the Whitehall Conservation Area between the Norman Shaw Building and the Ministry of Defence.  It faces onto the Victoria Embankment with views across the River Thames to London County Hall, Westminster Bridge and the London Eye.

The Invited Design Competition provides architects/practices with the opportunity to produce a design for the renovation of this landmark in one of London’s most important and historic areas - to provide a modern, flexible and secure office environment for the MPS.   The Curtis Green redevelopment will provide a state-of-the-art HQ for the MPS that also respects the heritage and location of the building and the need to deliver value for money for the MOPAC and the Met.

Roger Harding MPS - Director of Real Estate Development said: "The opportunity to create  a modern efficient working environment for the Met’s future headquarters, with world-class architecture that provides value for money and is alive to the history of the building provides a wonderful challenge.  

"We look forward to working with RIBA as the competition progresses and to seeing the designs.  The transformation of Curtis Green fits with our wider objective to deliver a more efficient and higher quality estate which meets the operational needs of the Met and is significantly lower in cost to run."

The original building, constructed as an annexe to the original New Scotland Yard, had no significant front entrance.  A new modern, efficient and highly visible entrance and reception will be an important part of the design.

Expressions of interest (EOI) are sought from architects/practices worldwide, following which up to five architects/practices will be invited to develop concept designs for the project.  Each of the short-listed architects/practices will receive an honorarium payment of £6,000 (+VAT) and be invited to present their proposals to a Judging Panel at a final assessment.  

The Judging Panel will include architect Bill Taylor, Taylor Snell acting as the RIBA Adviser. Deadline for receipt of expressions of interest is 2.00pm on Thursday June 27 2013.