The Building Centre
What Visitors Say
Came here to explore some of their exhibits. This has a considerably big set of displays over two floors. The basement is very big indeed. The displays at the moment in part focus on retrofitting. This involves improving existing buildings to be more energy efficient. There are a series of rooms on both floors. This is a beautiful space with some unique features. There is also a cafe on site which has really good coffee and snacks to check out. Very nice street too in central London which is just off the busy main routes nearby.
I don’t like typical touristy stuff so getting to walk around and exist in the same space as students and professionals was just the thing I needed. The exhibition was temporary but so brilliant, I asked if they sold a compilation or book I could take home. They didn’t sell books on the exhibition but apparently a lot of people ask them for it. Quaint. Quiet. Amazing bathrooms I should mention. Great design. Loved the whole experience. Oh! And their cafe has good coffee and snacks as well.
Came here by accident, the place was weirdly empty. There were many interactive displays and though I'm not especially interested in architecture I enjoyed looking around.
Currently there's three exhibitions going on. One is for the Crossrail 2 project, the second is about digital design and construction, the third about modular design concepts to try and solve the chronic shortage of housing in London. I really enjoyed the latter, especially how quickly a new high rise building can be built using "factory manufacturing" techniques for building homes using pre-built units. The lower floor seems to be some kind of sales convention with lots of companies in the buildings trade hawking their products. It was a Saturday when I visited and all the booths were empty, which was actually quite good because I got to wander around and actually look at stuff without getting harassed by sales.
What a wonderful space to go for a meeting or to do some work. Close to Goodge Street underground so getting there is easy. There is a great coffee shop on the premises which serves all kinds of tasty treats.
Highlights
Current Exhibition Suite
Timely shows (often on retrofitting, sustainability or housing) connect policy, practice and design.From drawings to prototypes—how ideas become buildings.
Ground floor galleries
Downstairs Product & Materials Zone
Hands-on samples and supplier stands reveal what façades, insulation and systems actually look and feel like.Touch the stuff cities are made from.
Lower-ground level
Architect’s Café Pause
A quiet spot to debrief; you’ll overhear real project chat from students and pros.Coffee with a side of city-making.
Street level, near entrance
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
Exhibitions frequently spotlight retrofit and low-carbon design—practical paths to cut emissions in existing buildings.
The lower floor doubles as an industry showcase, so weekends can feel like a private viewing of manufacturer displays.
Free-to-enter shows mean quick ‘pop-in’ visits work well between other central-London stops.
