image of ‘Big Ben’ © User:Colin / Wikimedia Commons
Parliament’s Elizabeth Tower has been shortlisted for the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize – the first time in the award’s history that a conservation project has been nominated.
GOV.UK writes:
Better known as ‘Big Ben’, the Elizabeth Tower is one of the UK’s most recognisable landmarks. The restoration of the building, which ran from 2017-2022, was considered a ‘veritable masterclass in conservation and craftsmanship’ by RIBA’s judges.
Submitted for entry by Purcell – consultant architect on the project – the conservation was the most extensive and complex in the Elizabeth Tower’s history, combining traditional skills and crafts with cutting-edge upgrades that made the building fit for the 21st century.
Chris Elliot, Managing Director of UK Parliament’s Strategic Estates team said: ‘This nomination celebrates the successful restoration of the UK’s most photographed landmark, achieved through close collaboration with our architects, Purcell, alongside our exceptional supply chain. As custodians of a UNESCO World Heritage site, we are proud to have maintained and preserved the Elizabeth Tower as a symbol of our national heritage.’
The project safeguarded the architectural integrity of the Elizabeth Tower and ensured that Big Ben could continue to ‘bong’ for decades to come, repairing problems that could not be fixed while the clock was in action. It also conserved key elements of the building as designed by Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin, including stone carvings, the clock dials and the gilded spire.
In addition to repairs and redecoration to the interior, the project renewed building services and made improvements to health and safety and fire protection systems. The works also improved energy efficiency, reducing the Elizabeth Tower’s environmental impact and provided better access for maintenance and emergency services.
The conservation has already earned widespread recognition, including a RIBA National Award, RIBA London Award, AABC Conservation Award, Michael Middleton Civic Trust Award and Digital Construction Project of the Year Award.
Parliament’s Strategic Estates team has also been nominated for RIBA Client of the Year, acknowledging their role in championing excellence throughout the project.
Find out more about the project on the website
