The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project
Details
Team
Photographs
Location WC2, Camden, London Start on Site 2016 Completion 2019 Construction Value £25m Procurement JCT SBC with Quantities 2011 Design Standards BREEAM Very Good Scope of Work RIBA 0-7 Floor Area New Build 1,850 sqm
Client The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Architect MICA Structural Engineer (Ashworth Centre & Library Extension) Eckersley O’Callaghan Structural Engineer (Great Hall) AECOM Below Ground Drainage Engineer Infrastructure Design Studio M&E + Consultation on Energy, BREEAM Mott MacDonald Cost Consultant Gardiner & Theobald Local Authority London Borough of Camden Planning Consultant Montagu Evans Contractor GRAHAM Construction Landscape Architect Jeremy Rye Studio Heritage Lighting Consultant Light Perceptions Catering Consultant Duncan Ackery/Keith Winton Design Specialist Lift Consultant The Lift Company Acoustic Consultant Sandy Brown Fire Engineer Jeremy Gardner Associates Accessibility Consultant All Clear Design Wayfinding Signage dePass Montgomery Arboriculturalist Ruskins Archaeologist MOLA
Complete: ©Andy Stagg studio@andystagg.com + 44 (0)7889 154 591 andystagg.com ©Simon Kennedy www.simonkennedy.net + 44 (0)7720 844459 simonkennedy.net ©Richard Chivers richard.chivers@ntlworld.com + 44 (0)7786 616461 rchivers.co.uk Process: Construction Photographs, Photos prior to works, drawings and other images (except historic paintings and engravings) ©MICA Architects Ltd.
New education facilities beneath the East Terrace
Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library The Great Hall and Library Project for the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn is the culmination of MICA’s 2014 masterplan for the Inn’s historic estate. The most significant development at the Inn in 150 years, the project is comprised of a series of largely discrete proposals that are nevertheless holistic in their resolution of the Inn’s key issues; providing new education, library and office facilities and improving accessibility and the daily operations of the Inn.
The project included sensitive refurbishment of the Grade II* Listed Great Hall & Library and the addition of significant additional floor space through excavation adjacent to the Great Hall (for education & conferencing etc. use) and through replacement of an existing, lower quality, building with a more sensitive and efficient extension to the Library’s facilities. In addition, MICA have completed refurbishment projects to the Grade I Listed Old Hall and No.15 New Square.
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Old Hall Refurbishment
02 Great Hall Refurbishment 03 East Terrace Development 04 Library Extension 05 New Square Development
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Southern terrace wall prior to the works
New entrance to the Ashworth Centre
The new East Terrace looking south
Call Day on the former east terrace
The Great Hall c. 1910
Adding to the history of the Inn The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn is one of the four Inns of Court that is dedicated to the qualification, training and development of its members at all stages of their legal development. It is a diverse institution; its purposes are collegiate and institutional, it is a custodian of its own historic buildings, a banqueting venue and a tourist attraction.
Located in Holborn, Central London, the Inn have occupied the site adjacent to Lincoln’s Inn Fields since the 16C. Its earliest remaining buildings date from the early 17C, and over the centuries notable architects such as Philip Hardwick, Robert Taylor and George Gilbert Scott have contributed to its setting and facilities.
Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
Lincoln’s Inn Fields
Under Treasurer’s House
Newman’s Row
Great Hall Library
East Terrace New Square
North Gardens
Old Hall
The Chapel
Old Square
14-15 New Square
Chancery
lane
“MICA presented a well thought out, considered approach to the Lincoln’s Inn masterplan. Their fresh, innovative ideas, combined with a thorough understanding of the sensitivities of a heritage site, offer us the opportunity to address current practical issues revealing exciting opportunities for future development” Mary Kerr, Former Under Treasurer, The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
above Lincoln’s Inn gardens prior to works below North Gardens and New Square
A masterplan for the estate In 2014, MICA prepared an initial masterplan for the Inn’s estate which examined the Inn’s need and the site’s opportunities. It identified the scope for refurbishment and extension of the existing buildings including improvements to, and new provision of; education, catering, library and administrative functions, whilst consolidating these at the collegiate heart of the Inn.
The building project that followed has involved a series of largely discrete proposals that are nevertheless holistic in their resolution of the Inn’s key issues. The project includes sensitive refurbishment of the Grade II* Listed Great Hall & Library and Grade I Listed Old Hall, the addition of significant additional floor space through excavation adjacent to the Great Hall (for education & conferencing etc. use) and through replacement of an existing, lower quality, building with a more sensitive and efficient extension to the Library’s facilities.
Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
View of the Great Hall historic entrance with the Lime and Magnolia trees restricting views.
As complete - reinstated entrance to Great Hall with the Lime and Magnolia trees removed
The remodelled southern vestibule reinstates the formal entrance to the Great Hall
The restored Great Hall
Restoration of The Great Hall & Library: at the collegiate heart of the Inn Designed by Philip Hardwick and completed by his son in 1845, the Great Hall is both the physical and symbolic centre of Lincoln’s Inn. Through careful conservation and restoration of the hall and surrounding spaces and by reinstating original features and historic finishes the completed works maintain and reinforce the Great Hall & Library building as the centre of collegiate activity at the Inn. The refurbishment of the Great Hall removes recent poor-quality alterations, restoring many of the building’s heritage features and reinstating the original ceremonial entrance and improving accessibility throughout the building.
Within the hall, a new timber floor with underfloor heating has been installed to provide more effective thermal comfort for users, while replacing a failing 20th century flooring and restoring the timber wainscoting that lines the room which had been damaged by the installation of radiators. Conservation works were also carried out to the Inn’s Old Hall as part of an early phase of work that facilitated both its interim use for formal dining while refurbishment in the Great Hall was carried out, and its ongoing fitness for purpose in its permanent role as a prestigious venue for the Inn and revenue stream through commercial hire for functions.
Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
clockwise from right Refurbished production kitchens, staff servery and staff canteen
Support spaces The refurbished building provides improved banqueting and dining facilities in the Great Hall and rejuvenated events spaces that improve the Inn’s commercial offering. The works bring the building up to modern standards with the introduction of underfloor heating, new production kitchens, drainage and waterproofing and new energy-efficient mechanical systems.
Opposite page The restored upper vestibule
Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
Section through the Great Hall and the new Ashworth Centre
Building below ground The Ashworth Centre education suite (named after Mercy Ashworth, one of the first women to be called to the bar by the Inn in 1923) places education at the heart of the Inn, reinforcing it as one of the Inn’s core functions. The new building provides the Inn’s students and members with high quality teaching facilities that are linked to the other core functions within the Great Hall.
The building provides state-of-the-art advocacy training and seminar facilities along with a 150-seat lecture theatre, all located beneath the existing east terrace adjacent of the Great Hall. Large rooflights and double height spaces bring natural light into the heart of the building whilst providing an important visual connection to the surrounding buildings.
The double-height naturally lit circulation space at the heart of the Ashworth Centre education suite. To the right an informal seating area celebrates the buttress supports of the Great Hall
“This is a clever way of providing much needed educational and library facilities. Without such space the Inn will struggle to meet the needs of the profession and will therefore struggle to support the justice system.” Member of the Council of the Inns of Court Public Exhibition on 26 March 2015
The Benchers’ lawn - Rooflights are hidden from view behind planting Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
The completed East Terrace
Access to west of rooflight and planter
Reduced width to rooflights New rooflight
New steps to access south terrace planting and pergola reinstated
New planting
New paving
Enlarged footway adjacent to education entrance
Principal access to Great Hall reinstated New rooflight
Compliant staircase to basement
clockwise from top right The original Philip Hardwick terrace in 1845, the completed East Terrace, and the East Terrace prior to the works
A formal public space At terrace level, a new paved surface which incorporates a diapered pattern echoing the brickwork on the Great Hall, forms a new formal space for daily gathering and large set-piece events such as Call Day. The design accommodates the new facilities with minimal visual impact on the historic setting of the Great Hall and Library building and on the wider setting of the Inn.
Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
clockwise from top left Advocacy training rooms; open plan and sub-divided, flexible space for events and advocacy training
clockwise from top Lecture theatre, Advocacy rooms
Flexible events and education spaces The new education facilities enhance the Inn’s education offering to its members and the wider community. Previously located in a poorly ventilated basement with no natural daylight, the education department’s advocacy training facilities were unsuitable for a 21st Century institution. The new education building consolidates the Inn’s education functions the heart of the Inn, providing important facilities in close proximity to where its students and members live and work.
The education facility incorporates several design features that allows flexibility - both long and short-term. The advocacy training rooms have been designed to allow multiple space configurations; retractable partitions allow the sub-division of space to facilitate small advocacy training scenarios up to full 150-person functions and everything in between. The 158-set lecture theatre incorporates retractable seating the allow full lecture format or a large flat-floor space for larger functions. This flexibility allows the Inn to meet their current need for improved education training facilities but also accommodate a variety of external events and functions and future changing needs for training or events.
Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
left The former 1960s Under Treasurer’s residence above The new Library Extension viewed from Newman’s Row
above The new Library Extension viewed from North Gardens left The original 19C Steward’s House
Extending the Library The new extension to the north of the existing library provides contemporary office and library storage facilities, allowing the existing listed building to focus on the more ceremonial uses it is best placed to support. The extension replaces a poor quality 1960’s domestic building. Complimentary in scale and materials to its context, the new building provides an important addition to the Inn’s estate.
Whilst the building takes a simple form, it is constructed of high quality, finely detailed materials that are sympathetic to the context and blend with the existing Great Hall and Library. Conscious and meaningful design references to Hardwick’s Great Hall and Library ensure the new building sits well within its context. The new building respects the importance of the existing Library building by articulating the massing, so as to reveal more of the original building beyond from Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
Philip Charles Hardwick Designed Stone Stair
Upper Gallery Level
Lower section of original staircase to be rotated to provide access, upper section to remain in place
1962 Replica Concrete Stair
First Floor - Main Library Level
Poor quality 1962 replica concrete staircase to be removed
1998 Generic Concrete Stair
Ground Floor - Treasury Office Level
Poor quality 1998 replica concrete staircase to be removed
Basement - Library Storage Level
Illustrative diagram showing phases of spiral stair construction
The link connects the existing library to the new extension via the original stone spiral staircase
Making connections The extension both interwoven and distinguished from the existing Library via a glazed link which opens up a new circulation route within the Inn and enables connectivity with new facilities from four existing below and above ground levels.
New vertical circulation serving both the Library and administration spaces is provided within the new building. This allows for wheelchair access between the main first floor Library and the Library stacks in the basement. A new accessible entrance to the Library is provided from the new entrance at ground floor.
Opposite page The glass link viewed from Newman’s Row Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
New office space
right new library storage space below new library administration spaces
Consolidating the Inn’s library and administrative functions The new library and administration building provides open access to the entirety of the Inn’s extensive legal printed material – a large part of which was previously stored off-site. The new storage spaces have been designed in anticipation of the expanding collection, safeguarding the collection for at least the next 40 years. The library extension also provides new administration office space for the Inn’s estates and finance departments. These are modern, well-lit and naturally ventilated spaces which are a significant improvement on their previous offices and brings them together with the Inn’s other administrative departments for the first time.
Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
top dark stained timber lined staircase to the southern vestibule below contemporary glazing meeting the historic building
top new stonework seating to the East Terrace left reinstated brick arches to the Ashworth Centre
Contemporary and historic details
Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
Reconstructed stone parapet wall
Slot drain Yorkstone and granite paving
New dressed ashlar stone to base of parapet wall Double glazed rooflight New dressed ashlar stone to base of rooflight
Acoustic plaster ceiling Recessed blackout blind
Internal glazed screen
Timber veneered panels to air supply column
Internal glazed screen
Acoustic plaster ceiling
Lintel forming blind recess
Recessed blackout blind
Raised access floor
Void for air distribution Cavity drain system Cavity drain system
Working Detail 3D
Benchers’ border rooflight The new rooflight inserted beside the original stone parapet wall to the East Terrace provides natural light to the two levels of advocacy training facilities. Acoustic double-glazed screens admit natural light deep into the advocacy rooms maintaining acoustic privacy between adjacent training rooms whilst offering long views out towards the rooftops of the Inn’s historic estate. Automated roller blinds linked to the room lighting controls allow each of the advocacy rooms to be controlled for a variety of training set-ups. Oak veneered retractable partitions allow the training rooms to be sub-divided or opened-up for large events.
The basement of the education facility was excavated to two-storeys with a new piled wall retaining the lawn to the east. At lower basement level, a raised access floor distributes air throughout the education facility. At lower basement level the advocacy rooms air is supplied through low-level diffuser and at upper basement level via timber veneered ductwork columns. At terrace level, the original stonework was carefully deconstructed, and individual stones catalogued before being reset on the new reinforced concrete structure. The structurally glazed rooflight sits within a stainless-steel frame and is dressed in new facing limestone to match the stonework of the existing building. Once established, the planting of the flower board will conceal the new rooflight, ensuring minimum visual impact on the historic setting of the Inn.
Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
clockwise from top left Revealing the foundations of the Great Hall, excavating the East Terrace, laying underfloor heating in the Great Hall, altering the spiral staircase to the north-west turret of the library
Construction challenges The challenges presented by excavating next to a historically significant building have been considerable. Pre-construction ground investigations and desktop studies of historical archive information gave us clues as to what may be encountered during the excavation works, but excavating in proximity to an historic existing building such as the Great Hall was always likely to throw up surprises.
opposite page Ashworth Centre breakout space under construction,
Although the excavated ground has been well churned over time limiting the chances of significant archaeological discoveries it has been the existing below ground structure of the Great Hall that has presented the biggest challenge.
Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
Rainwater from roofs to rainwater harvesting
Extract at high level
Surface water from terrace to soakaway
Rainwater harvesting Surface water attenuation soakaway
Diagram Key Heating Mechanical ventilation (supply ) Mechanical ventilation (extract) Ground source heat pump
Solar Gain Lighting
Sustainability The project marries together exceptional environmental and sustainable performance with a sensitive understanding of the significant historical setting of the Inn. A holistic energy strategy helped to significantly reduce the running costs of the Inn’s existing historic building stock, which tended to be high maintenance and expensive to run. Despite the age of the buildings and heritage restrictions, the project achieves a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating. The development utilises renewable energy from a ground source heat pump, serving the new two-storey subterranean education suite, the new Library
extension and the existing Great Hall and Library building. The new building and library extension are carefully oriented to maximise daylighting to working areas while minimising uncomfortable solar gain. Energy efficient building services and catering and kitchen ventilation equipment further help to reduce the Inn’s overall energy demand. Rainwater harvesting and a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDs) have been incorporated into the new buildings. The former provides the Inn with recycled water for irrigation of the soft landscaping and the latter helps surface water soak into the ground rather than entering the sewer system.
opposite page the completed East Terrace looking north Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
Drawings
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Great Hall & Library Library Extension East Terrace & Ashworth Centre Old Hall North Gardens New Square 8-10 Old Square 1-7 Stone Buildings Hardwicke Building Old Buildings 11-15 Old Square 8-11 Stone Buildings Site Plan
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East Terrace Members Common Room Terrace Members Common Room Treasury Reception Treasury Office Old Court Room New Library Extension / Admin Office Benchers’ Lawn Gatehouse Western service yard
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Ensuite bedroom Common room Kitchen Lobby Entrance to staff apartment
Ground Floor Plan Not to scale
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Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
Drawings
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Basement Plan
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Ashworth Centre reception Breakout space Advocacy training rooms Lecture theatre WCs Cloakroom Plantroom Great Hall kitchen Staff canteen Wine cellars Existing library storage New library storage New secure archive storage
Lower Basement Plan
Existing building fabric New building fabric
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Mezzanine level below
First Floor Plan
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Southern vestibule Great Hall Servery Upper vestibule Drawing room Committee room Library New library office New admin office
Roof Plan
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Drawings
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Long section through the Ashworth Centre Section AA
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Great Hall Members Common Room Kitchens Breakout Space Advocacy rooms Cloakroom WCs Plantroom Library Old Court room New library storage New secure archive storage Admin office Library office
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Existing building fabric New building fabric Long Section through the Library Extension Building Section CC
Reconstructed stone parapet wall Slot drain Yorkstone and granite paving
New dressed ashlar stone to base of parapet wall Double glazed rooflight
Acoustic plaster ceiling Recessed blackout blind
Timber veneered panels to air supply column
New dressed ashlar stone to base of rooflight
Internal glazed screen Internal glazed screen
Raised access floor
Lintel forming blind recess Acoustic plaster ceiling Recessed blackout blind
Air supply grille Carpet tiles Raised access floor
Void for air distribution
Cavity drain system Cavity drain system
Working Detail - Benchers’ border rooflight Scale 1:80 @A4
Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
Structural Engineer’s Statement:
From the librarian:
“Obtaining planning permission for such a major intervention adjacent to the iconic Grade II* listed building understandably required a thoroughly engineered approach. Over the course of the project challenges presented across a range of materials and scale. The obvious concern was to safeguard the historic building, but there were many more subtle issues needing a sympathetic response to the reconfigured architecture. Numerous junctions with the existing buildings were carefully detailed to allow the two to freely articulate without visual disruption. The Great Hall contains a “priceless” one-of-a-kind fresco, so we were keen for building movements to be mitigated and measured. The weekly ‘Movement Monitoring report’ was studied with much fervor to see how it compared with our predictions.
“The Ashworth Centre achieves the feat of blending both old and new. From the outside, one scarcely registers its existence under the East Terrace. Within, the Centre is stylishly modern, whilst providing new perspectives on the Inn’s heritage. The skylights offer intriguing glimpses of the Victorian buildings, whilst the infinite variety of colours of the Victorian brick substructure of the Hall are now on view for the first time.
The Great Hall entrance staircase was carefully suspended on a series of micro-piled ‘stilts’ for 12 months while the two-storeys of auditorium and advocacy spaces were built up to re-support its underside. A freestanding glass link containing an ultra-slim bridge structure allowed the new library foundations to ‘bed-in’ to the London clay without load being attracted to the large glass panels. Each pane was then carefully chased into the historic brickwork to allow vertical freedom of movement while resisting wind forces.
The ability to provide a modern building sympathetic to neighbouring historic buildings can also be seen in the new office building. This is a building of its time, complying with all the needs and requirements of 21st Century offices. The glass bridge linking the offices to the Victorian Library is also uncompromisingly modern. Rather than jarring, however, the new office complements its neighbour in the warm tones of its hand-made bricks and window surrounds which use stone from the quarry used in the construction of the 1845 building. After years of having no staff office, the Library and Archives team at Lincoln’s Inn are now the envy of all their colleagues. Their new office is spacious and airy, with views across the Inn’s north gardens and Lincoln’s Inn Fields.” – Dunstan Speight, Librarian at The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s inn.
In re-connecting the new library space to the historic turret, the existing spiral stone stairs had to be rotated by 180 degrees. This operation had to be carried out with surgical precision and was achieved without the need to replace any of the original treads. The final result is testament to the team that they maintained such a keenly focused attention to detail throughout.” – Duncan Walters, Associate Director Eckersley O’Callaghan
“Amazing” – Her Majesty, The Queen commenting on our work at Lincoln’s Inn whilst at the Royal Opening
Client Endorsement Lincoln’s Inn, as one of the four Inns of Court, plays a central role in the rule of law for the UK and beyond. The estate to support this important legal work is located across eleven acres of quiet historic buildings. One of the most important functions of Lincoln’s Inn is the ongoing education of student members and barristers. The Inn’s existing education facilities were off site, were too small, had poor ventilation and no natural daylight. This was problematic, as the Inn was keen to re-assert its education programme through expansion, as part of its focus on inclusivity and reach out to individuals from backgrounds where a career in legal advocacy was never part of the tradition or expectation. The new Ashworth Centre is highly innovative and provides excellent facilities, highly rated by both pupils/students and the senior barristers using the premises. It provides exactly the kind of flexible facilities needed to support the Inn’s widening net of Education, together with committee and meeting space. The centre is light and airy in feel, and users regularly say they do not feel in basement space at all. Included in the original MICA masterplan was an assessment of Library needs; book storage space on-site was no longer available, but the need for book space was not diminishing. Again, an innovative solution was achieved, providing three floors of offices flooded with natural light, and a substantial increase in basement book storage space at the centre of the estate. This addition will ensure that the Library is able to provide ready access to its complete collection for many years. Building users’ comfort has been carefully considered and takes advantage of the peaceful verdant setting of the Inn to provide natural ventilation to the office spaces, holistically improving wellbeing of users through connection to the outdoors. Central to the Inn’s portfolio is the Grade II* Listed Great Hall, now restored to meet the Inn’s demand to host dining and ceremonial events. Improvements to damp proofing and drainage will ensure the infrastructure that supports the building’s use are suitable for sustained future use. Improvements to lifts and step free access in and around the building allow long term use in a practical sense. Overall passive design solutions reduce the carbon emissions beyond that of current building regulation by 18%, with the ground source heat pump a further carbon reduction of 17.5%. Energy efficient building services and catering and kitchen ventilation equipment further help to reduce the Inn’s overall energy demand. The new and refurbished spaces have provided the Inn with exactly the facilities needed, have been very well received, and will ensure the Inn has excellent facilities for a long time to come. – Philip Ardley, Director of Estates, The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
Awards Building Design Refurbishment Project of the Year – Shortlisted Civic Trust Awards 2020 – Shortlisted New London Architecture Awards 2020, Conserving category – Shortlisted BD Refurbishment Architect of the Year 2020 – Finalist RIBA London Regional – Shortlist RICS Social Impact Awards – Shortlisted Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall & Library Project | MICA
MICA Architects Ltd. 123 Camden High St London UK NW1 7JR +44 (0)20 7284 1727 micaarchitects.com