London’s Barbican Will Shutter for a Year During $320 Million Renovation

London’s Barbican Will Shutter for a Year During $320 Million Renovation

TheBarbican Centrein London will close for a year beginning in June 2028 as part of a five-year, £240 million ($320 million) renovation that will see major improvements to the arts hub’s foyers, terrace, and conservatory. The announcement comes after the City of London Corporation has approved a £191 million investment in the center’s five-year renovation plan, which is aimed at increasing accessibility, opening up public space, shoring up infrastructure, and reducing carbon emissions. The investment will finance 80 percent of expected costs, with the rest to be covered through fundraising.

“The City of London Corporation has approved a concentrated period of works which will mean that the majority of our spaces will be under construction and not accessible for roughly one year, between the end of June 2028 and the end of June 2029,” said a Barbican spokesperson in a statement. “This approach ensures that renewal will be delivered safely, on time and on budget.” The renovation will kick off in 2027, with phase one wrapping up in 2030. The projected completion date of 2032 coincides with the Barbican’s fiftieth anniversary.

Designed in 1982 by Chamberlin, Powell, & Bon in 1982, the nonprofit’s Brutalist campus encompasses three galleries—the Barbican Art Gallery, the Curve, and the Level 2 gallery—as well as a three-screen cinema, conference halls, restaurants, a public library, and several performing arts venues including Barbican Hall, home to the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. The cinema will remain open during renovations, and the London Symphony Orchestra will mount a full season across London and elsewhere. The Barbican has said it will collaborate on programming with partners, associate companies, and festivals while it is closed.