FBM were appointed Criterion Capital to lead on the refurbishment and adaption of an existing Grade II listed office building in Westminster to a 650 roomed Zedwell hotel. Built between 1927-1929, The building is located in the historic Smith Square and is adjacent to world heritage site of the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey. Until 2024 the site had been occupied by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

Internally, the building has suffered many insensitive alterations & re-configurations over the years. The project proposes a range of interventions that enhance the latent qualities of the building to restore a sense of character and enjoyment to Nobel House. 

The scheme creates the opportunity for the building to be open to general public for the first time in its history. The main entry sequence of the building has been reconfigured to face Millbank, with a series of calibrated spaces (porch, vestibule, arcade and courtyard) celebrating the journey from street to room. 

Central to the scheme are two existing atria, unusual in their proportion and clad with decorative tile work. The east atrium is proposed to re-purposed as a cafe and guest amenity space. Dense landscaping would create pockets of different spaces to allow for zones of different spaces. The proposed ground surface treatment would be formed of pavers and cobbles to retain the character of an external space or small square.

 An infill block to the north provides new hotel rooms above ground level, concealing the existing service riser wall and creates a fourth façade to the atrium courtyard. The west atrium is proposed to be reconfigured as an ancillary restaurant 

Framed pavilions are introduced to the atria to provide a more human scale whist also allowing for views through to the existing and proposed facades. The reflective steel would allow for reflections of both the landscape and the existing heritage features. 

As part of the proposals, in addition to the existing external fabric, the areas of high heritage significance would be retained and carefully adapted including many of rooms along the eastern edge of the building facing Millbank, with a particular focus on the suite of former executive offices, meeting rooms, refectory and servery on the sixth and eighth floor. 

It is envisioned that for many of the larger, high significance rooms, that the new hotel rooms would be inserted as pod or pavilion type structures, that would site independently of the historical fabric. This would allow for the enjoyment of unique views the existing rooms  and ancillary amenity spaces.

The project is targeting BREEAM excellent and the planning application was submitted to Westminster City Council in September 2025.