Having sold their previous office, Belgravia House, The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the regulatory body for the UK veterinary professions, acquired a new building to serve as their long-term home. The RCVS needed a purpose-built workplace that would meet their organisational needs now and into the future. We were appointed following a competitive tender process led by an external project manager. This project utilised our full suite of services: strategy, design, build, project management, and furniture, all of which we competed for, helping to bring their vision to life.
Our Workplace Strategy team worked closely with the RCVS to develop a deep understanding of their current operations, future ambitions, and the diverse needs of their employees, members and visitors. Through Senior Leadership Team (SLT) interviews, employee workshops, and a detailed all-staff survey, we took an architectural approach to workplace strategy, exploring hybrid working preferences, space usage, and consulted with every department across the organisation.
One of the key outcomes was a strategy recommending a balanced approach with a flexible, agile working model, supported by collaborative zones and specialist rooms such as an archive area, a bespoke legal meeting suite, and a dedicated events space. These insights laid the foundation for how the building was planned, stacked, designed, and furnished, helping to shape a workplace tailored precisely to the RCVS’s organisational needs.
As a not-for-profit, owner-occupier organisation, every decision made by the RCVS needed to be justifiable and transparent. Sustainability, budget control, and inclusivity were central to the project. Working alongside external MEPH consultants and our project management team, we retained existing building elements across the 21,000 sq ft space, such as washrooms, tea points, and bleachers, to minimise waste and cost and reduce overall carbon footprint.
Planning approvals were secured for key interventions, including transforming the main entrance of the building to provide a street-level, wheelchair-accessible entry. The internal slab was lowered to facilitate this, and the internal lift, spanning the full 6 floors, was replaced to ensure people of all abilities can access every floor.
We also introduced a new staircase between two floors, improving means of fire escape and increasing occupancy capacity to allow for an events space on the fourth floor. Even unforeseen challenges, like moisture on the lower ground floor, were resolved sustainably, using render to preserve the fabric of the building while preventing future issues.
Our design concept paid homage to RCVS’s heritage whilst meeting the demands of a modern, community-facing organisation. Key public areas include an experiential reception and a premium lower ground events suite. A dedicated members’ space to view archival materials was also designed, to promote engagement with visitors and the wider veterinary community.
Internally, a calm and professional atmosphere was achieved through natural finishes, high acoustic performance, and spaces tailored for collaboration and concentration alike. Stained glass features of veterinary college crests and irreplaceable heritage artefacts were carefully integrated, adding richness and meaning without compromising the modern functionality of the space. Our design team worked closely with the RCVS to ensure that all materials used were ethical and sustainable.
This project involved specifying all new furniture, meaning we had the opportunity to deliver a scheme that truly aligned with the RCVS’s vision and the design finishes and colour scheme. With the RCVS’s office located in the heart of Clerkenwell, we guided them through showroom visits in the local area to test products. Sustainability was a priority throughout, achieved by accessing our independent range of suppliers throughout the UK and Europe. Stacking-chairs in the lower ground event space were made from recycled plastic, and first-floor dining chairs from recycled denim, an attention to detail that resonated with the RCVS team.
Task chairs were specified for their ergonomics and durability, and each neighbourhood throughout the office has access to height-adjustable desking promoting inclusivity. Bespoke furniture, such as tables with precise dimensions and flip-top meeting tables in the boardroom added adaptability without compromising on finish. Every item selected balances practicality, aesthetics, and environmental responsibility, meeting the RCVS’s goals without exceeding budget.
This was a comprehensive transformation for the RCVS and a true turn-key Peldon Rose delivery, from strategic inception through to final fit out. From RIBA stage 0 to 7, our expert teams handled planning permissions and structural alterations all the way through to a complete Cat A and Cat B refurbishment, to create a modern workplace that respects the building’s architecture, reflects the organisation’s values, and is fit for RCVS’s future at Hardwick Street.
With all teams now operating under one roof, the building supports everything from large-scale events to committee meetings and everyday operations. Peldon Rose’s full-service approach ensured a cohesive, purpose-driven result, providing the RCVS with a space that’s as considered as the work they do.
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