Multi award-winning London architecture firm, Adams+Collingwood Architects, is delighted to have delivered a stunning new headquarters for the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). The ‘calm and bold’ brief provided the opportunity for the talented team of architects to blend the RCM’s rich history with a contemporary workspace that would promote collaboration and flexibility.

The Royal College of Midwives is the oldest midwifery association in the world. The Adams+Collingwood team has worked with them since 2012, on their previous premises in Mansfield Street. When the decision was made to move from those converted terraced houses to an open plan office space in Southwark, Adams+Collingwood was delighted to step up to the plate. The resulting interior office design was supposed to be bright, elegant, and contemporary, delivering a range of light-filled, flexible working spaces.

Tamsin Bryant, Adams+Collingwood Architects said “Our task was to deliver a modern working environment that prioritised light, space and quality, while also respecting budgetary constraints. The brief was to deliver calm and bold working spaces that were accessible and functional, while also making all those who used them feel good about the new office. Respecting tradition and professionalism was also key.”

A dropped floor delivers the wow factor and adds drama to the space, while also dividing it up practically and providing discreet storage under the higher-level floor. Identifying whether or not dropping the floor would achieve value for money was a key project priority, as doing so involved the addition of structural steel beams to support the new lowered floor.