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Brutalist icon Barbican Centre gets £191m for major upgrade
Cristina Lago Deputy Editor
The Barbican Centre within the Barbican Estate (Image: Dion Barrett)
The City of London Corporation’s top decision-making body, the Court of Common Council, has approved a £191m funding package for essential repairs and upgrades at the iconic Barbican Centre.
The money represents around 80% of what’s needed to fund phase one of the Barbican Renewal Programme, a five-year programme to modernise the Grade II-listed building in phases.
The design team includes multidisciplinary firm Buro Happold, and architects Allies and Morrison and Asif Khan Studio.
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During phase one, Buro Happold will focus on repairing and rationalising the Barbican Centre's foyer, lakeside, conservatory and catering building. This will include improving accessibility enhancing energy efficiency and making the infrastructure more resilient.
Subject to planning permission, construction will begin in 2027 with this first phase complete in time for the Barbican’s 50th anniversary in 2032.
The Barbican Centre is part of the British brutalist Grade II-listed Barbican Estate, built between 1971 and 1982. It is the largest performing arts centre in Europe and around 1.5 million people visit it each year.
City of London Corporation’s policy chair, Chris Hayward, said: “This funding underlines our support for the Barbican Centre, recognising its unique role as a leading cultural institution and driver of economic growth, contributing £86m a year to the UK economy and supporting about 1,100 jobs across London.
“The Barbican Centre is central to the Square Mile’s cultural identity and plays a pivotal role in our attractiveness as a place to work and visit.”
The November/December 2025 issue of Construction Management magazine is now available to read in digital format.
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