This year we will begin an exciting refurbishment project of the RSA House. The refurbishment will make ‘the House’ a venue of the highest standards by significantly improving the functionality of the venue through improved technology, but also by enhancing the visual appeal of the House for a broad range of events.
The refurbishment will be finished well in time for the Opening Ceremony of London 2012 on the 27th July 2012. The RSA House will be a perfect venue to hold all types of Olympic Parties with a number of the games’ events right on its doorstep.
Mr Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the RSA, said: "These are very exciting times for the RSA House and I am thrilled to be a part of the development, which I truly believe will be of huge benefit to our fellows as well as visitors to the RSA."
The project sees the development of the ‘Great Room’ into a flexible, technologically advanced multi-purpose event space. It will afford a modern take on the original 17th century flat floor complemented by the latest 21st century technology. This will allow visitors and Fellows to maximize the impact of the epic James Barry mural during their events.
The flexibility of this new space will enable the RSA to host a wide variety of events including conferences, dinners, receptions, weddings and parties as well as continuing our great forum for lectures and debates. The ‘Great Room’ staircase will also be enhanced with a new design lighting feature and will include restoration of a glass mosaic floor discovered under the existing carpet.
The ground floor will offer a more flexible open plan area, allowing for a much improved visitor experience, enhanced communication of the RSA’s role and activities, as well as offering an entirely new opportunity to utilise the space for select house events such as welcome receptions or networking. The ground floor area will be remodelled with terrazzo flooring throughout.
With such an exciting project we are also taking the opportunity to update the ‘Benjamin Franklin Room’ with a new wooden floor and lighting features.
The RSA is working with Matthew Lloyd Architects, who worked on the very successful refurbishment of the ‘Vaults’ in the 80s, and who have a fine feel for the traditions of this incredible building.
+44 (0)20 7930 5115
house@rsa.org.uk