Health, Culture and Leisure

Designed by AHMM, Tower Hamlets Town Hall unites multiple civic functions within the restored, Grade II listed former Royal London Hospital and a substantial new-build extension. Located in the heart of Whitechapel, the scheme consolidates several council departments into a single, accessible location. A top-lit glazed atrium forms the transition between old and new, with dramatic bridge links connecting open-plan workspaces to historic staircases and former operating theatres, now repurposed as informal meeting and breakout spaces. 

Intended to ‘lightly touch’ the listed building, the glazed atrium provides visual separation and a sensitive interface. The curtain walling system was engineered to align with the irregular plan of the historic structure, as well as minimise the size and frequency of the structural sections. Fixings were developed to accommodate 20mm of movement in all directions between the listed fabric and the new structure, preserving both visual and structural integrity. Glazed rooflights, including AOV’s, were seamlessly integrated as part of the fire and environmental strategy, with colour-coded actuators used to distinguish new from old. 

The new-build extension comprises a concrete frame with punched window openings, including double height curtain walling with ‘glazed-in’ metal spandrel panels. To achieve the required visual delicacy, full-width aluminium extrusions were used to create a fine filigree detail across otherwise flat elevations. One of the design’s more complex features was the installation of precast stone bands running across the double-height curtain walling zone. These were positioned post-installation but detailed to allow future curtain wall replacement without their removal. This was achieved using a continuous aluminium capping detail developed by specialist contractor Lindner Prater. 

The scheme achieves BREEAM Excellent and an EPC rating of A (17). Designed to a long-life loose-fit mandate, the extension features generous floor-to-floor heights and flexible floorplates. Façade strategies respond to orientation, with optimised daylighting, varied window-to-wall ratios, and colourful shading fins to mitigate solar gain. An exposed concrete frame incorporating 50 per cent GGBS provides thermal mass for passive temperature regulation, supporting the council’s long term sustainability goals. 

The transformational nature of this community focused project impressed the judges, as did its assured planning and confident use of materials. They also acknowledge the key role played by Schüco windows and curtain walling in successfully uniting the new and existing elements.