British Academy, London, UK

British Academy

Role

Technology Consultancy for AV and IT

Duration

18 Months

01.-

The client 

The British Academy   

The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences. It was established in 1902 and received its royal charter in the same year. It is now a fellowship of more than 1,000 leading scholars spanning all disciplines across the humanities and social sciences and a funding body for research projects across the United Kingdom. The academy is a self-governing and independent registered charity, based at 10–11 Carlton House Terrace in London.

02.-

The brief 

Set against the backdrop of the ongoing design work

Recursive was approached by the British Academy to provide a Needs Analysis report which would set out the initial audiovisual and I.T. design options for consideration by the British Academy (BA) stakeholder team. This was set against the backdrop of the ongoing design work for the lower ground floor refurbishment, which will see the creation of a new purpose-built auditorium, control room, green room space and additional front of house spaces. Based on this separate undertaking, it was essential to examine the whole building holistically, in order to maximise the effort being expended in the lower ground floor in creating these new facilities. 

03.-

The challenge 

It was the time to consider the wider operational picture

Given the upheaval, the works will cause to the overall building and the daily operations of the BA, it was the time to consider the wider operational picture which will best leverage the investment being made. As part of the Needs Analysis process, the Recursive team carried out a number of face to face interviews with various stakeholders within the BA, in order to get a feel for the organisation and how the building currently operates. These interviews have specifically been aimed at understanding what is important, what works, what doesn’t work and what needs to change.

 

04.-

The Outcome 

Easing working on this historic and complex building.

Recursive has recently been appointed to carry out the full structured cabling design, tendering and commissioning process for the 2nd and 3rd floors as part of the first stage of the buildings refit. This is occurring during the pandemic whilst staff are based from home, thus easing the process of working on this historic and complex building.

 

06.-

Partners