Black Cultural Archives

 

Black Cultural Archives

The Black Cultural Archive is a charity aimed at recording and celebrating the contribution of black people to British society. This project provided the BCA with a high-quality permanent home in Brixton.

It secured the use of the Grade II listed Raleigh Hall, a pair of early 19th century houses that had been substantially altered and extended. The building was derelict and on English Heritage’s Buildings at Risk register.

We were the structural engineers for the major renovation and extension of the building. The £3.5m, 737m2 scheme included new offices, interpretation spaces and a library which was created in the existing building while a new concrete-framed extension houses a temporary exhibition space and an archive designed to BS5454 standards.

The project went on to win two NLA Awards and two Civic Trust Awards.

Client: Black Cultural Archives (BCA)
Architects: Pringle Richards Sharratt Archives
Images: Courtesy of the architect