The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has secured temporary office space at BMA House in Tavistock Square as its staff prepares to vacate the organization's historic 66 Portland Place headquarters for a major renovation. The move comes after previous plans to relocate to the Royal College of Physicians fell through due to circumstances beyond RIBA's control.

In May, RIBA confirmed that an agreement to temporarily house its workforce at the Jerwood Centre had collapsed. The Jerwood Centre, a self-contained Neo-Georgian building designed by Carden & Godfrey Architects at the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), would have provided an ideal temporary base. Under that arrangement, RIBA would also have had access to the main RCP building, designed by former RIBA president and Royal Gold Medal winner Denys Lasdun, who also designed the National Theatre. The building would have been available for major events, including the upcoming inauguration of president-elect Chris Williamson next month.

Following the collapse of the RCP deal, RIBA began searching throughout central London for alternative locations before settling on space within BMA House, located less than a mile from their existing headquarters. The British Medical Association's Grade II-listed building near Euston Station has served as the organization's home since 1925 and boasts a rich architectural history tied to renowned architect Edwin Lutyens.

BMA House has a fascinating construction history that spans several decades and architects. Originally designed by Edwin Lutyens in 1911 for the Theosophical Society, construction was interrupted by World War I. Following the war, the Theosophical Society found itself unable to afford completion of the building and sold it to the British Medical Association. The BMA then commissioned Lutyens to finish the construction, and the building officially opened in 1925. An extension overlooking Tavistock Square, designed by Cyril Wontner Smith, was completed in 1929. Further additions were made by Douglas Wood, with the final addition completed in 1960.

RIBA has not disclosed specific details about how many staff members will relocate to BMA House or when the move will take place. In a statement, the organization said: "RIBA colleagues will be moving temporarily to the BMA Building as we begin the refurbishment of 66 Portland Place as part of our ambitious House of Architecture program. We are leasing space for staff and they will have use of shared facilities offered to BMA tenants."

The temporary relocation is necessary to accommodate the $58 million House of Architecture renovation project at RIBA's Portland Place headquarters. The organization has already closed the building to the public to make way for the comprehensive overhaul, which is being overseen by Benedetti Architects as lead architect and Purcell as executive architect. In June, Westminster City Council granted full planning permission and listed building consent for the restoration and refurbishment of the 1930s Grade II-listed structure.

Benedetti Architects won the competitive selection process for the renovation project back in 2022 and submitted detailed proposals for overhauling the historic structure earlier this year. The ambitious House of Architecture program represents a significant investment in modernizing RIBA's facilities while preserving the building's historic character. The Portland Place headquarters will officially close to all staff by the end of this month, marking the beginning of the major construction phase that will transform the building into a more accessible and functional space for the architectural community.