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Institute of Chartered Accountants
PCSA
1 / 2
Set among the formal streets of the City, the headquarters of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales carried an air of restraint and permanence. Its façades, shaped by successive phases of architectural ambition, formed a dignified backdrop to the daily workings of one of Britain’s most influential professional bodies. Any intervention here would need to be as considered as the institution itself.
DBR entered the project during the Pre-Construction Services Agreement phase of a two-stage Design & Build contract, a period devoted not to visible transformation, but to careful preparation.
Client
Institute of Chartered Accountants (Icaew)
Dates
10 Oct 2025
—
9 Oct 2026
Location
London
Grade listing
Grade II*
Fabric
Slate
Timber
Stone
Designing the Work Before It Began
This early stage allowed DBR to work closely with the client’s design team, developing proposals through to Stage 4 of the RIBA Plan of Work. The intention was to move seamlessly into the Construction Services Agreement with a design that was fully coordinated, compliant, and ready to build.
Much of this work unfolded behind the scenes: method statements drafted, technical details resolved, risks anticipated before they could emerge on site.
Working Within a Building That Never Slept
The project took place within a live environment, where meetings, events, and daily operations continued uninterrupted. Logistics therefore became a discipline in its own right. Access routes, deliveries, sequencing, and working hours were all planned to minimise disruption, ensuring that the institution’s business could proceed while preparations for restoration advanced.
Investigating the Fabric
Understanding the existing façade was essential before any intervention could be finalised. DBR undertook a series of investigative and enabling activities, including scaffold design supported by load-testing surveys. Materials that defined the building’s character—slate, stone, and mortar, were sourced and sampled, allowing the restoration strategy to be grounded in evidence rather than assumption.
Each sample carried clues about durability, compatibility, and appearance, guiding decisions that would shape the finished work.
Navigating Permissions and the Public Realm
Because the building sat within the tightly regulated fabric of the City of London, planning conditions required careful coordination. DBR prepared detailed submissions and method statements while liaising with local authorities regarding potential road closures and other logistical implications.
At the same time, specialist design packages were developed. These included the glazed enclosure to the Whitfield Wing, external lighting in coordination with Nulty, temporary works strategies, drainage repairs, lightning protection, and the detailing of roof flashings to ensure watertight integration between old and new.
Preparing the Pieces for Construction
Responsibility extended to managing key specialist contractors. DBR oversaw the named glazing subcontractor, progressing the design to a stage where procurement could begin, while allowing for additional surveys to refine the eventual construction methodology.
Each element moved forward in concert, building a framework for works that had not yet physically begun.
By the end of PCSA, the project had quietly but fundamentally advanced: uncertainties reduced, designs refined, approvals progressed, and risks contained. At ICAEW, DBR shaped the route forward, enabling a confident, precise façade restoration with minimal disruption to the building’s daily life.
