RICS Awards 2009 winners revealed

A centre for worship for 1400 years and one of Britain's most iconic buildings, St. Paul's Cathedral had never previously undergone such significant renovation. A £40m programme began in 2000, with the twin goals of restoring the cathedral for its 300th anniversary in 2008 and preparing it for the next century of its life.

Specifically, the restoration programme was designed to rejuvenate the building, to speak as clearly as possible to London's inhabitants and visitors alike, as well as bringing St. Paul's into a state of repair that would make future maintenance as organised and cost effective as possible.

Significant emphasis was placed on cleaning the interior and exterior of the building, which has transformed the cathedral. The work on the external stonework has not only conserved it, but has served to illuminate Wren's architecture once again.
 
The cleaning of the interior of the cathedral was the largest and most complex element of the project. New methods for cleaning the stonework were established, while an innovative hanging and rotating scaffolding was developed to support works to the interior of the dome and tambour.

Underpinning all of the restoration was an enormous quantity of research that helped minimise the amount of work that was actually executed. For example, establishing how the Geometric Stair was originally built enabled a much more conservative method of repair than had previously been envisaged.

The footprint of the medieval buildings, which was hidden away, has been used as a new garden and allows visitors to see and understand this important part of the earlier site.

This is a remarkable project that has rejuvenated a truly timeless building for the local area and wider community. The care and attention taken in its restoration, in both its exterior and interior has given it a completely new lease of life. A wonderful project."

 Simon Pott, Chairman of the Judging Panel

 Project Team