Foster + Partners Among Finalists for London Met Police HQ

Five London-based architecture firms—including Foster + Partners—have been shortlisted in the RIBA-organized design competition to create the new central London Metropolitan Police HQ. The facility will replace the existing New Scotland Yard building. The shortlist was announced by the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, and the Metropolitan Police Service today and includes these five teams:

• Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
• Allies and Morrison
• Foster + Partners
• Keith Williams Architects
• Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands

“The competition generated considerable interest with the chance to create a new landmark building for London," said Roger Harding, Metropolitan Police Service - Director of Real Estate Development. “The move to Curtis Green is an exciting opportunity for the MPS to create a modern and efficient working environment within this new headquarters. We look forward to seeing a winning design that respects the history of the building whilst reflecting the MPS need to modernize our estate.”

The new HQ, to be called Scotland Yard, will involve the redevelopment of the existing and currently unoccupied Curtis Green MPS building located on the Victoria Embankment, London, SW1. The Curtis Green Building, named after architect William Curtis Green, sits within the Whitehall Conservation Area between the Norman Shaw Building and the Ministry of Defense. It faces onto the Victoria Embankment with views across the River Thames to London County Hall, Westminster Bridge and the London Eye.

The shortlisted teams will now work on their design proposals and will be invited to present these to the judging panel in September 2013.