The Royal Institute of British Architects
THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS, 66 AND 68, PORTLAND PLACE W1
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1227026
- Date first listed:
- 14-Sept-1970
- List Entry Name:
- The Royal Institute of British Architects
- Statutory Address:
- THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS, 66 AND 68, PORTLAND PLACE W1
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-07-15
- Reference:
- IOE01/04759/12
- Rights:
- © Mr Adam Horan. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1227026
- Date first listed:
- 14-Sept-1970
- List Entry Name:
- The Royal Institute of British Architects
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS, 66 AND 68, PORTLAND PLACE W1
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS, 66 AND 68, PORTLAND PLACE W1
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- City of Westminster (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 28793 81885
Details
TQ 2881 NE CITY OF WESTMINSTER PORTLAND PLACE, W1 45/23 (east side) 14.9.70 Nos. 66 and 68: THE ROYAL Institute of British Architects (R,I.B.A) - II* Institute. 1932-34 by G. Grey Wornum as the result of a competition. Steel framed and reinforced concrete construction clad in Portland stone; flat roof. Deep rectangular plan filling 2 original house plots back to mews. Scandinavian influenced Neo Classicism with carefully proportioned and restrained use of formal and sculptural details emphasising institutional character whilst respecting the overall scale of the C.18 Portland Place; plain annexe front to north, 3 storeys (with blind 3rd floor) and set back attic storey, the annexe with 6 storeys in the same height, on basement. 3 windows wide with 11-window return; 3 window annexe. Broad square headed doorway centred in rusticated ground floor with bold simply moulded architrave surround; large double bronze relief doors by James Woodford, flanked by free-standing -sculptured monoliths. Through storey large window above doorway in architrave surround rising into blind 3rd floor level with shallow relief figure carved above. Flanking bays have tall 1st floor windows, shorter 2nd floor ones and square ones to 4th floor,all with shallow architrave mouldings. Plat band finishing off ground floor rustication. Bold sharply profiled crowning cornice. Plain set back attic storey. Weymouth Street return has outer windows wider spaced from chain range of 9, similar details to flanking windows on front but with continuous bronze balcony to 2nd floor and the blind 3rd floor with figured bas-relief panels by B. Copnall. The annexe has similar plain fenestration but with 2 storeys of windows in the double height of main block 1st floor separated by balconettes and plain square windows in 4th floor. Bronze area railings to annexe and Weymouth Street. Fine unaltered interior by Wornum and his wife with high standard of finishes and intact fittings; grand central staircase going across to lecture and memorial halls; excellent use of ornamental engraved and frosted glass; galleried library, etc. Britain in the Thirties; A.D. Profile
Listing NGR: TQ2879381885
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 424599
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Profile, A D, Britain in the Thirties, ()
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 05-Jun-2026 at 17:46:22.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.