Allford Hall Monaghan Morris chosen to design new London Police HQ

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) won the RIBA competition to design the new London Police Headquarters (previously on Bustler), as announced by the Mayor of London, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, and RIBA on Oct. 14. This is one of the latest big-time projects for the UK-based firm, who is also working on the redevelopment of the BBC television center and was recently named the architect for Google's UK headquarters.

Upon the project's expected completion in 2015, the new headquarters will then be renamed Scotland Yard.

Keep reading to learn more about AHMM's recent win.

From the RIBA press statement:

"The Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime (MOPAC) is selling the current Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) headquarters, New Scotland Yard, and moving to more modern, cost effective offices at the iconic Curtis Green building on the Victoria Embankment in 2015. This will then be known as Scotland Yard.

A world-class field of architects responded to the RIBA design competition, launched in May 2013, to find the most suitable and financially viable proposal for the building. AHMM’s winning design envisages a police headquarters that will be more open and accessible and will help the Met to reconnect with the public, whilst respecting the heritage of the Whitehall Conservation Area in which it is sited.

Key design features include a new public entrance pavilion, extensions to the building itself and the creation of public open spaces. The world-famous revolving sign will be retained as well as the Eternal Flame and Roll of Honour, currently located at New Scotland Yard in Victoria [...]

The redevelopment of the Curtis Green building forms part of the largest ever transformation of the police estate to provide a more modern, efficient, secure and cost-effective estate - ensuring the MPS remains at the forefront of 21st century policing. The cost to the Met if they were to remain at NSY would be around £30 million, with £50 million additional spend needed for it to meet the specifications for a modern policing operation. By moving to the new site and cutting costs, the Met are able to invest in frontline policing, helping to keep officer numbers high, improve the technological capability of the force and develop facilities like a brand new, state of the art police training centre in Hendon.

The move to Curtis Green is part of the MOPAC/MPS Estate Strategy to update its underused and outdated estate. These changes will see a reduction of up to 300,000 sq m - a third of its overall size – helping to reach the MPS target of saving £500m per year by 2015/16.

The Met will now work with AHMM to develop the designs further before a planning application is submitted in 2014. Completion of the site is expected in 2015.

Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Stephen Greenhalgh said: “Scotland Yard is returning to its historical home in Whitehall. The new, smaller Met HQ will help deliver a 21st century police force and AHMM's design, which includes a public space, will help Londoners to reconnect with the Met.

'By selling outdated and impractical buildings like the New Scotland Yard that are costly to maintain, we can reduce property running costs. The money raised from the sale of these buildings will be ploughed back into frontline policing so that our officers are equipped with the tools and technology they need to fight crime and to continue to keep London safe.'

MPS Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan Howe said: “Scotland Yard is an internationally recognised and highly respected brand and the architects final designs for the building will, we hope, reflect and enhance this status.

'Whilst providing modern, efficient and secure premises for our staff, the move will release substantial sums to be reinvested back in to other policing services. This is a significant and exciting move for us and marks the new era of 21st century policing for the MPS. It allows us to save money while improving our estate.'

Paul Monaghan, Director, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris said: 'We are delighted to have won the competition to design the new HQ for the Metropolitan Police within the historic setting of the Curtis Green building. This is a very important project for AHMM with the opportunity to work with one of the most significant and longest established law enforcement bodies in the world. We look forward to working with the Metropolitan Police Service to develop a building that supports them in their changing role within the city.'

Bill Taylor, RIBA Competitions Adviser said: 'Through the careful extension of the public realm across the site and consideration of its neighbours in massing and materiality terms, these proposals will serve to strengthen this cohesion. ‘Weaving’ the heritage and culture of the Metropolitan Police into the fabric of the building and the spaces that surround it, the proposals strike a balance between respect for what already exists and the desire of the client to present a new, open and progressive face to the community they serve.'"

For more info, click here.

Image via met.police.uk.