Royal Institution of Great Britain

Decarbonising a landmark of British science

The Royal Institution’s home at 21 Albemarle Street has shaped scientific thinking for more than two centuries. Michael Faraday carried out pioneering experimental work here, while John Tyndall’s research helped establish the scientific foundations of the greenhouse effect. 

Today, the same building is showing how historic properties can respond to the climate challenge. 

Through Project FootpRint, Coniston helped transform the environmental performance of the Grade I listed building, moving it from a commercial EPC D rating to a B and putting it on track to reduce carbon emissions by 42%. 

That exceeds the original 35% target and places the building among the top 20% of UK non-domestic properties awarded EPC ratings since 2009. 

 The result is particularly significant because it has been achieved in a complex Georgian building, with sections dating back to 1705, while the Royal Institution remained open for research, education, events and public visits. 

 Made possible through £4.35 million of funding from the Mayor of London, the project included new air source heat pumps, rooftop plant, air handling units, upgraded radiators and an intelligent building management system. Coniston also delivered window and door repairs, insulation upgrades, LED lighting in the Lecture Theatre, solar-reflective window film and measures to reduce heat loss through the chimneys. 

 Together, these changes have enabled the Ri to move away from gas heating and towards a lower-carbon future. 

Modernising a Grade 1 listed building

The challenge was to deliver a major technical retrofit without compromising the building’s historic fabric, day-to-day operation or public role. 

The new systems have removed the need for natural gas across the building, apart from where it is required for scientific work in the laboratories. Heating is now provided electrically, supported by better insulation, improved airtightness, intelligent controls and more efficient energy management. 

Working within a Grade I listed building required care at every stage. Coniston worked in confined ceiling and floor voids, carefully lifted and reinstated historic flooring, protected original finishes and temporarily relocated or safeguarded busts, books and library collections. 

The building also contained hidden voids, uneven floor levels, undocumented alterations and services installed at different times throughout its history. These conditions could not always be fully understood until areas were opened up, so close coordination and practical problem-solving were essential throughout the programme. 

Keeping the Royal Institution open

The Ri remained operational for much of the project. 

School visits continued on the lower ground floor, events and seminars took place on the ground and first floors, tenants remained on the second floor and office staff continued to use the upper levels. 

Coniston planned the works floor by floor, relocating teams and sequencing each stage so the institution could continue to function. A noisy works tracker was used to manage disruptive activity, with some work taking place during evenings and weekends. Temporary services were also installed where needed. 

This careful approach reduced closures and helped protect the Ri’s free museum, public science programme and live research involving highly sensitive equipment. 

The Mayfair location added another layer of complexity. Albemarle Street is narrow and one-way, with a hotel opposite, other construction work nearby and limited space for lifting operations. 

Coniston coordinated road closures, deliveries and crane lifts to safely install the new plant and equipment at roof level. 

Technical delivery with heritage care

The project brought together mechanical and electrical upgrades, structural alterations and conservation-sensitive building work. 

The rooftop plant required new steelwork, acoustic screening and safer access, including guardrails and roof staircases. Within the building, Coniston installed new radiators, refurbished windows and doors, upgraded the Lecture Theatre lighting and carefully routed services through sensitive historic areas. 

The new building management system will monitor how the building performs and adjust its operation to improve efficiency. 

 In the Ri’s 225-year-old Lecture Theatre, CO₂ sensors will measure occupancy and control the amount of fresh air supplied. This allows the ventilation system to respond to different audience sizes and uses throughout the day. 

 Improvements to the building fabric were equally important. Solar-reflective film was added to the Georgian windows to reduce solar gain, while vents and draught excluders were installed within the chimneys to limit heat loss. 

 Each intervention had to improve the building’s performance while respecting its appearance, fabric and historic importance. 

A lower-carbon future for the Ri

Project FootpRint has delivered a major improvement in the performance of one of Britain’s most important scientific buildings. 

The Royal Institution is now heated electrically, apart from gas required for scientific use in its laboratories. Its commercial EPC rating has improved from D to B, and the building is on track to cut carbon emissions by 42%. 

The EPC improvement means the Ri has already reached the level expected to be required of commercial buildings by 2030. For a Grade I listed property with more than two centuries of alterations, sensitive interiors, active laboratories and a busy public programme, that is a significant achievement. 

The project also gives the building’s history a new relevance. In the place where the science of greenhouse gases was first explored, the Royal Institution is now demonstrating how historic buildings can be adapted for a lower-carbon future. 

For Coniston, the project brought together heritage expertise, technical coordination, live-building logistics and careful delivery in one of London’s most sensitive working environments.