The grade II-listed old Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, the setting for the TV series London Hospital and Casualty 1900s, is to be converted into a new civic centre for Tower Hamlets council by architect Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) in a £77m scheme.
Last November, the council approved the creation of a new town hall on the site of the hospital, replacing the council’s modern block in London’s Docklands.
The Royal London Hospital was founded in September 1740 and was originally named the London Infirmary. The name changed to the London Hospital in 1748 and then to The Royal London Hospital in 1980 when the Queen came to visit and gave it the added “Royal”.
In 1785, it became the first hospital to house its own medical school in England. In 1895, the Royal London became the first hospital that offered a preliminary training school for nurses.
It is also famous as the hospital where Joseph Merrick, known as the Elephant Man, spent the last few years of his life.
Paul Monaghan, director of AHMM, said: “This is an amazing opportunity to create a civic beacon for Tower Hamlets, and we look forward to the challenge of working with new and old to make a new type of town hall at the heart of the community.
“Whitechapel as a whole is undergoing massive changes and the civic centre will be a key building contributing to the regeneration of the area and securing the future of a building of heritage importance for the borough.”
Will Tuckley, Tower Hamlets Council
“One of the most exciting aspects of the project will involve bringing the 18th century Royal London Hospital back to life as a public building open to the borough.”
AHMM is has a track record in large-scale office, civic, education, healthcare and arts buildings. Its prize cupboard includes the RIBA Stirling Prize 2015 for Burntwood School in Wandsworth.
The future Civic Centre is a major part of the wider regeneration of Whitechapel, which includes the opening of Crossrail in 2018, alongside plans for 3,500 new homes, retail facilities and new public spaces over the next 10 years.
The appointment of AHMM followed a competitive process with more than 100 expressions of interests, 23 bids at the next pre-qualification questionnaire stage, before six strong bidders were invited to tender.
Bidders were also required to ensure that they could provide strong project management throughout the contract and ensure that work would be delivered within agreed costs.
As part of the winning tender AHMM has also agreed to provide a range of wider community benefits including providing access to jobs and work experience for residents.
It will also work closely with schools on curriculum projects and mentor pupils interested in a career in design and architecture.
Will Tuckley, chief executive at Tower Hamlets Council, said: “Whitechapel as a whole is undergoing massive changes and the civic centre will be a key building contributing to the regeneration of the area and securing the future of a building of heritage importance for the borough.
“We are also pleased that a firm with a clear and proven award winning design flair will be at the helm of what is both a grade II-listed and much loved landmark building in the east end of London.”
The building is earmarked for completion by the end of 2021.
