The AJ understands the institute’s staff will take up temporary residence in the Tavistock Square offices while the RIBA’s 66 Portland Place headquarters undergoes a major overhaul.

In May the organisation confirmed that an agreement to relocate its workforce into the Jerwood Centre, a ‘self contained’ Neo-Georgian building designed by Carden & Godfrey Architects at the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), was off.

The main RCP building was designed by Denys Lasdun, a former RIBA president, Royal Gold Medal winner and National Theatre architect and, under the deal, would have been available for the organisation to use for events such as the inauguration of upcoming president Chris Williamson next month.

Following the collapse of the move to the RCP ‘due to circumstances beyond RIBA’s control’, the institute began scouring central London for other possible locations before settling on spaces within BMA House, less than a mile away from the RIBA’s existing base.

The medical association’s Grade II-listed building near Euston Station – its home since 1925 – was built in stages, having originally been designed by Edwin Lutyens for the Theosophical Society. Lutyens’ scheme was started in 1911 but the First World War interrupted construction and, subsequently, the Theosophical Society could not afford to finish the building.

It was sold to the BMA, which commissioned Lutyens to complete the construction and it was opened in 1925. An extension by Cyril Wontner Smith overlooking Tavistock Square was completed in 1929 and further additions were added by Douglas Wood, the last in 1960.

It is unclear how many staff will move into BMA House nor when. The RIBA said: ‘RIBA colleagues will be moving temporarily to the BMA Building as we begin the refurbishment of 66 Portland Place as part of our ambitious House of Architecture programme. We are leasing space for staff and they will have use of shared facilities offered to BMA tenants.’

The RIBA has already shut its Portland Place headquarters to the public to make way for the £58 million House of Architecture revamp overseen by Benedetti Architects and executive architect Purcell.

In June Westminster City Council granted full planning and listed building consent for the restoration and refurbishment of the 1930s Grade II*-listed structure.

The building will officially shut to all staff by the end of the month.

Benedetti submitted proposals to overhaul the Grade II*-listed structure earlier this year, having won a contest for the job back in 2022.