Haworth Tompkins has been appointed to work with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to develop proposals for the redevelopment of Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives. The proposals will explore options to reconfigure and refurbish the Grade II listed building as a hub for the borough archives, including upgraded storage facilities, educational and community uses.
Although originally constructed as a Vestry Hall in 1861, the building was extended and converted to a library in 1902, with the help of a donation from Andrew Carnegie. The success of the library during the early 20th century led to another major extension in 1937, and the footprint of the building was roughly doubled. The building contains several historically significant spaces, including a 330sqm hall which once housed the lending library, and a reading room with a decorative plasterwork ceiling.
Haworth Tompkins will lead a multi-disciplinary design team to develop proposals for the sensitive refurbishment and upgrade of the building, which is currently in a poor state of repair. The team will draw on their experience in the cultural, educational and archive sectors to produce designs that deliver high performance archival and community spaces for Tower Hamlets.
Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives website: www.ideastore.co.uk/local-history
Pembroke Mill Lane for Pembroke College, Cambridge, has been shortlisted for the 2026 RIBA Stirling Prize, the UK's most prestigious award for architecture.
Wonderful to see the new performance spaces at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) alive with performance, rehearsal and teaching.
Pembroke Mill Lane, Cambridge has received a RIBA National Award.
Haworth Tompkins has been shortlisted in two categories at this year's Building Design Architect of the Year Awards.
We are so pleased to see The Court Theatre continue to receive industry recognition, with multiple honours at Friday night's Property Council New Zealand Industry Awards, including the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Judges' Choice Award.
In the second of three NLA articles, Tom Gibson, Associate Director at Haworth Tompkins, reflects on the practice’s international mass timber projects and the lessons they offer for timber construction in the UK.
Last week, Haworth Tompkins received the Dewi-Prys Thomas Award for our work on Theatr Clwyd in Mold, North Wales. The award celebrates the role of design in improving quality of life and supporting regeneration across Wales.
The redevelopment of Pembroke Mill Lane, Cambridge, for Pembroke College has been recognised with four RIBA awards, including a 2026 RIBA East Award, Building of the Year, Project Architect and the Conservation Award.
| 25.03.26 | Mass Timber Design Innovations: from fire strategy to carbon reduction, the challenges and opportunities of designing with timber. → |
| 30.10.25 | Construction Reaches Topping Off Milestone for the New Home of the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University → |
| 28.07.25 | Haworth Tompkins reveals plans for the redevelopment of Grade I listed De La Warr Pavilion → |
| 13.05.25 | Haworth Tompkins to lead design of affordable housing in £2.5 Billion York Central Regeneration → |