FBM Architects were appointed by the London Borough of Southwark to lead on the design of a new home for the Southwark Pensioners Centre. The new centre will be created by the adaptive re-use of the ground and basement levels of an existing commercial premises in the Elmington Estate in Camberwell.

The Southwark Pensioners Centre is a community resource centre operating as a hub for older people. It provides a one stop shop for older people bringing together various agencies and service delivery.

Their current premises is in a Victorian property on Camberwell Road. While it provides much needed service, its layout size and condition were inhibiting the SPC’s ability to expand its services across the wider borough.

The new centre has been designed to act as a suite of large flexible rooms clustered around a timber lined central hall with rooms orientated towards either the street or to a new community terrace garden. Through early and continuous engagement, the theme of social “spaces to linger” between the main rooms became a driving force the project’s development. A new shopfront and canopied entrance will announce the centre’s prominence to the street.

Inclusive design and accessibility have been considered from the outset and integral to design, as opposed to an “add on”. Materials were selected their qualitive nature but also their long-term robustness.

The project is targeted to achieve a BREEAM excellent rating, obtained planning permission in November 2024 and works are due to commence on site in early 2026.