Contractors and specialist consultants are being lined-up for more than £357m of upgrade works at London’s Barbican Arts Centre as the City of London Corporation starts sketching out the next phase of its landmark renewal drive.
A string of fresh pipeline notices published this week reveal the scale of the looming procurement push across the Grade II-listed Brutalist complex.
The biggest package is a £143m MEP Infrastructure Phase 2 works deal covering major replacement and renewal of ageing building services systems at the arts centre.
Another £80m infrastructure package is planned alongside a £70m overhaul of the famous Barbican Conservatory.
The City is also preparing a £42m refurbishment of foyers and circulation areas, while a separate £8m Concert Hall package will tackle specialist performance spaces.
The procurement pipeline follows planning approval earlier this year for the wider £231m first phase retrofit programme designed by Allies and Morrison with Asif Khan Studio and Buro Happold.
| Barbican renewal packages | Scope – tender date | Value |
|---|---|---|
| MEP Infra Phase 2 Works | Major M&E replacement works – (18.6.27) | £143m |
| Infrastructure | Core infrastructure renewal and upgrade works – (1.3.27) | £80m |
| Conservatory | Climate-controlled retrofit and accessibility works – (6.1.27) | £70m |
| Foyers | Retrofit of foyers and public circulation spaces – (1.6.27) | £42m |
| Concert Hall | Concert hall refurbishment and specialist works – (26.1.27) | £8m |
| Staff Spaces | Back-of-house staff accommodation upgrades – (1.2.27) | £8m |
| Sculpture Court | External public realm and sculpture court upgrade – (N/a) | £6m |
The broader renewal programme aims to modernise the 1980s landmark while preserving its historic character through a retrofit-led approach focused on repairing building fabric, improving accessibility and replacing outdated infrastructure.
Major works are expected to start in late 2027 with most Barbican activities paused between 2028 and 2029 during the heaviest construction phase.
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