Willmott Dixon has been appointed to refurbish the Grade II-listed Old Admiralty Building in Horse Guards Parade into the new home for the Department for Education (DfE).
Procured under Scape Group’s National Major Works framework, the £50m project is being led by fit-out specialist Willmott Dixon Interiors, which last year transformed the Grade II-listed Commonwealth Institute in Kensington into the new home for the Design Museum.
When the restoration of the Admiralty building, which is the backdrop to the annual Trooping the Colour, is complete the DfE will relocate there from Sanctuary Buildings in Great Smith Street.
DfE commercial director and EFSA director of capital, Mike Green, said: “The Old Admiralty Building is important for government as a large and strategically placed freehold. By renovating and upgrading the building, we are maximising the value of this important heritage asset and providing a good home for the department.”
Mike Hart, chief operating officer for Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “We are excited about being tasked with such an important contract and we’ll work to ensure the refurbishment is complete so that the DfE can move into their new home in autumn 2018.
“It will be delivered by an experienced team who are familiar with the security, logistical and technical challenges that working on high profile London projects provide.”
Willmott Dixon Interiors’ role will see it transform 23,000 sq m of space at the Old Admiralty into a modern working environment, including upgrading the building services to introduce new mechanical ventilation and environmental controls, plus futureproofing space for government offices in the long-term.
