The Bank of England is getting an enormous glow-up

"The Bank of England's grand Grade I-listed HQ on Threadneedle Street has been around for nearly 200 years. In order to survive all those decades and centuries, it's undergone several huge overhauls. The building was first designed by Sir John Soane and completed in the 1830s, then its was demolished and rebuilt by Sir Herbert Baker in the 1930s (only its facade stayed the same) and then it given another big facelift in the 1990s."

"Now, it's due its next major upgrade. The refurb will begin in 2026 and be led by Purcell Architecture the same firm that restored Westminster's Elizabeth Tower and revamped the National Portrait Gallery. The public is unlikely to see the results of the refurb, though. Most of the project will focus on replacing ageing infrastructure, rather than changing the external look of the building. It's been called an incredibly complex project' and is expected to take until 2029 to complete."

"She said: This is an opportunity to breathe new life into a legacy building, not through radical reinvention, but through thoughtful, intelligent transformation. The Bank of England is more than a financial institution. In London alone, it is a workplace, a site of public engagement through financial literacy campaigns and the Bank of England Museum, and a central part of the City of London's identity."

The Bank of England's Grade I-listed Threadneedle Street headquarters will undergo a major refurbishment beginning in 2026 and expected to complete in 2029. Purcell Architecture will lead the project. Most work will focus on internal replacement of end-of-life heating, pumping and ventilation systems and redesigning office layouts to create extra workspace. The external appearance will largely be preserved. The project emphasizes adaptive reuse, sustainability, respect for heritage, and supporting the building's functions including workplace use and public engagement through the Bank of England Museum and financial literacy activities.

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