People's Choice Winner: Hammersmith & Fulham Civic Campus

Friday 27 November 2020

NLA is delighted to announce Hammersmith & Fulham Civic Campus as the winner of the People’s Choice was for 2020.

Over the past 2 months we’ve invited Londoners to have their say and vote for their favourite project from the 2020 shortlist. The shortlist ranges across 13 sector-based categories and includes small individual dwellings to large masterplan schemes, making picking a favourite no easy decision. With over 2,000 votes cast, we are delighted to award the mixed-used scheme as this year’s People Choice.

Quotes from nominators:

‘So impressed with the contemporary reimagination of this civic space and the delivery of value for the council and local community. Great architecture and use of public realm!’

‘It is ground breaking inclusion: coproduction that had never been seen before.’

‘The Scheme has the authority required of a Civic centre whilst retaining a practical and functional design . The scheme speaks to the people it will serve and will be a focal point for the community.’

‘A project with the community at its heart. High quality architecture and fully inclusive.’

Hammersmith & Fulham Civic Campus

Approved in February 2019, Hammersmith Town Hall & Civic Campus is the extension and full refurbishment of the Grade II listed Town Hall, the creation of a new high-quality civic mixed-use development and the positive renewal of west King Street with improved connectivity to the riverside. Expected to be complete by April 2023, demolition has started on site to remove the tired 1970’s Town Hall extension and the cinema opposite. This will make way for a vibrant new piece of town centre with greatly improved facilities for residents and workers, as well as providing needed affordable housing

The new scheme aims to create an exemplary public realm associated with the new development, whilst celebrating the unique and important location it occupies. It ensures this large precinct of Hammersmith is designed to maximise liveability and functionality as a fundamental part of the Borough.

The scheme respects its context and will enhance the Town Hall’s Grade II- listed building. A roof extension in the form of a glazed floating glass box, will create a legible and positive tension between old and new. The removal of the 1970’s Town Hall extension is to make way for a new public piazza space. It will be the main approach to the Town Hall and host a variety of public events.

The Town Hall will be transformed into a venue that welcomes and serves the public, providing not only new, rationalised council offices, but also meeting and start-up office spaces, along with public recreation areas; the handsome central courtyard will be transformed from a carpark into a reception area flooded with natural light. The scheme meets and exceeds guidelines and is “ruthlessly inclusive” as the result of a genuine co-production design process with the borough’s Disabled Residents' Team.