Project overview
Princebuild was appointed under a JCT Design and Build contract to deliver a phased refurbishment at Church House, 27 Great Smith Street, London. The building is a live, listed conference and events venue with numerous stakeholders, including sub-tenants and conference suite users, which required a highly collaborative and flexible approach throughout the project.
The refurbishment covered three key areas within the building: the Diocese of Europe offices, the N2 office suite, and the creation of a new cafe and book shop. The client’s primary objectives were to modernise the accommodation, improve functionality for users, and significantly reduce the building’s operational carbon footprint in line with their net zero commitments for 2030.
The project commenced in August 2024 and was completed in October 2025, with programme changes managed throughout to accommodate ongoing events and bookings within the venue.
Scope of work
Works were delivered under a carefully planned phased programme to minimise disruption to Church House’s day-to-day operations as a live conference centre.
The Diocese of Europe offices and N2 office suite were fully stripped out and refurbished to create modern, vibrant working environments. This included new mechanical and electrical installations, refurbishment and retention of listed elements such as windows, doors and flooring, as well as new finishes, decorations and furniture throughout.
The cafe and book shop involved the transformation of former office accommodation into a new community-focused space. Works included full strip-out, complete new M&E installations, specialist resin flooring, bespoke partitions, interior fit-out and furnishings, and high-quality finishes to support the new use of the space.
Across all areas, Princebuild retained design responsibility and worked closely with the client team, consultants and stakeholders to manage programme changes, some of which arose at short notice due to new event bookings.
Summary
Despite the challenges of working within a fully operational venue, the project was successfully delivered through close collaboration with the client, consultants and stakeholders. Programme changes caused by additional events were managed proactively, ensuring minimal disruption to conference operations while keeping the client fully informed of cost and programme implications.
Environmental performance was a key focus, with specialist low-carbon materials used throughout and new BMS controls installed to heating, ventilation and lighting systems. LED lighting was also introduced to reduce energy consumption and running costs.
The completed refurbishment has provided modern, flexible spaces for occupants and visitors, reduced CO₂ emissions, and lowered operational costs, while supporting Church House’s wider sustainability objectives and enhancing facilities for the local community.
