Proclamation Trust, London
The Proclamation Trust, a charity dedicated to providing biblical teaching for students throughout the year, sought to relocate their operations to an existing office building in Elephant and Castle. The brief called for a diverse range of spaces, including a new entrance, teaching and learning areas, break-out zones, refreshment and kitchenette spaces, a library and resource center, and staff training and office facilities.
The project scope involved refurbishing the entrance and three floors (1,720m²) to accommodate these needs, while upgrading two additional floors to a CAT A standard for leasing to tenants, providing the Trust with an income stream.
A key objective of the design was to create uplifting and functional spaces that foster a sense of community and provide a welcoming environment for staff and students. This goal was particularly important following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which online teaching had proven difficult. The Trust aimed to resume in-person teaching in their new home by September 1, 2021.
The project also included reorganizing and fitting out two floors to create flexible office, workshop, and learning spaces. At roof level, the terrace was refurbished to provide additional break-out and recreational areas. The remaining floors of the building were upgraded for tenant use to support the Trust’s operational sustainability.
The design process involved thorough space planning, massing studies, and analysis to maximize the building’s potential. Through visualizations and 3D animations, the team presented various configurations to facilitate productive discussions with the client and user groups, ensuring the final design met their needs while reflecting their vision.
Ground floor layout and materials and furniture palette.
Above. Ground floor entrance foyer and 'snug' meeting room.
Third floor layout and materials and furniture palette.
Above. Third floor breakout space
Above right. Third floor flexible configuration from cellular classrooms to open-plan lecture theatre
Fourth floor layout and materials and furniture palette.
above. Fourth floor informal study and staff quiet area; Right. 
Fifth floor layout and materials and furniture palette.
Above. Fifth floor staff social and offices; fifth floor layout
Below. Early stage visualisations of ground floor entrance; third floor breakout; and lecture theatre
Description: Refurbishment of three floors of work space, education facilities and conference/meeting space
Client: Proclamation Trust
Area: 1,720 SqM
Value: £2.4m
Status: completed December 2021
MEP Eng.: Mecserve
Struct Eng.: Cluttons
Acousticians: Ion
QS: Sphere 3
RT Team: Wajiha Dadabhoy, Tim Robinson, Mark Gabbey
