Several key operations, such as the caf, bookshop and events will cease operations during the planned refurbishment of the central London, George Gray Wornum-designed building, which is set to begin this autumn.A spokesperson for the RIBA told the AJ this would mean that 14 positions connected to front-of-house operations will be lost and the affected employees offered voluntary redundancy or redeployment to another area of the institute.The RIBA said in a statement: The temporary closure of our 66 Portland Place headquarters will see an operating pause for the RIBA venue, caf and physical bookshop offering, although RIBAbooks.com will remain available.AdvertisementUnfortunately, this will impact 14 roles across those teams, and they will be offered alternative employment within RIBA, or redundancy.We understand this is a challenging time for those impacted and our priority is to provide available options and ensure clear communication and support during a period of consultation.According to the institutes last annual report (for the year ending December 2023) the RIBA had a workforce of 250 people. The number of employees has fallen since 2020, when the average headcount was 318.The RIBAs home at 66 Portland Place is set to close to the public at the end of May for three years to allow a 58.8 million refurbishment of the building to designs by Benedetti Architects.The RIBAs back-of-house operations will then vacate the building by the end of August, when the institute will temporarily relocate to the Royal College of Physicians offices near Regents Park.AdvertisementIn an announcement made as plans were submitted for its 58 million House of Architecture revamp, the RIBA said last week that it would move into the Jerwood Centre, a self-contained neo-Georgian building designed by Carden & Godfrey Architects.As part of the agreement between the RIBA and the Royal College of Physicians, the RIBA will make use of services within the main Grade I-listed, Denys Lasdun-designed building, as well as holding some events there.The retrofit and refurbishment of 66 Portland Place is part of a wider 85 million investment in the RIBAs headquarters, collections and technology. However, the RIBA has not yet provided an update on plans for an off-site collections facility away from 66 Portland Place.The RIBAs library and collections access services are due to close on 10 April.In the meantime, some of the four million items in the RIBAs collection will be accessible at the London Archives in the Square Mile, as part of a deal with the City of London.2025-03-24Gino Spocchiacomment and share